Home › Countries › New Caledonia
🇳🇨 New Caledonia
New Caledonia (Oceania) has a population of 295,333 (2025), ranking 176 out of 213 countries by population. GDP per capita – New Caledonia: $29,213 /inh. (2024), ranking 57 out of 211. Economic growth is -13.5 % (2024). The unemployment rate is 11.2 % (2025). Annual inflation stands at 0.6 % (2016).
Ctrl + scroll: zoom · drag: pan
Compare with other countries →
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths – New Caledonia, according to global rankings (rank/countries ranked): Access to basic sanitation (1/211), Open defecation (1/211), Protected land areas (2/210).
Weaknesses – New Caledonia, according to global rankings (rank/countries ranked): GDP growth (211/211), GDP per capita growth (211/211), Diabetes prevalence (197/207).
Regional comparison
- GDP per capita: New Caledonia has $29,213 /inh., above the regional median (Oceania: $8,489 /inh.).
- Unemployment: New Caledonia has 11.2 %, above the regional median (Oceania: 5.1 %).
- Inflation (consumer prices): New Caledonia has 0.6 %, below the regional median (Oceania: 2.5 %).
- GDP growth: New Caledonia has -13.5 %, below the regional median (Oceania: 2.8 %).
Comparable countries
From closest to furthest. The proximity score (0 to 100) compares each country’s position across all the indicators they have in common: 100 = identical profiles.
- 1🇵🇫French Polynesia99 indicators compared54/100
- 2🇲🇪Montenegro101 indicators compared41/100
- 3🇫🇯Fiji103 indicators compared34/100
- 4🇹🇹Trinidad & Tobago98 indicators compared34/100
- 5🇧🇿Belize104 indicators compared33/100
- 6🇸🇨Seychelles96 indicators compared33/100
- 7🇲🇵Northern Mariana Islands58 indicators compared33/100
- 8🇬🇺Guam81 indicators compared32/100
- 9🇹🇨Turks & Caicos Islands68 indicators compared32/100
- 10🇨🇷Costa Rica104 indicators compared31/100
- 11🇨🇾Cyprus103 indicators compared31/100
- 12🇧🇧Barbados97 indicators compared31/100
All indicators
·Wealth & Growth 7
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural resource rents | 16.8 % | 2021 | 33 of 211 |
| Gross national income per capita (Atlas method) | $30,070 /inh. | 2024 | 50 of 205 |
| GDP per capita | $29,213 /inh. | 2024 | 57 of 211 |
| Net national income per capita | $9,342 /inh. | 2000 | 58 of 184 |
| GDP | $8.5B | 2024 | 158 of 211 |
| GDP growth | -13.5 % | 2024 | 211 of 211 |
| GDP per capita growth | -14.3 % | 2024 | 211 of 211 |
Prices, Inflation & Currency 3
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation (consumer prices) | 0.6 % | 2016 | 28 of 191 |
| Inflation (GDP deflator) | 1.1 % | 2024 | 41 of 210 |
| Official exchange rate | 105.86 LCU/$ | 2025 | 64 of 211 |
Employment 8
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment in services | 77.6 % | 2025 | 31 of 184 |
| Employment in industry | 20.6 % | 2025 | 73 of 184 |
| Labor force participation rate (ages 15 and over) | 56.4 % | 2025 | 130 of 184 |
| Self-employed workers | 17.1 % | 2025 | 133 of 184 |
| Employment rate (ages 15 and over) | 50.1 % | 2025 | 138 of 184 |
| Unemployment | 11.2 % | 2025 | 155 of 184 |
| Employment in agriculture | 1.8 % | 2025 | 160 of 184 |
| Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) | 33.1 % | 2025 | 170 of 184 |
Foreign Trade 7
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-technology exports | 5.3 % | 2015 | 100 of 185 |
| Imports of goods and services | 28.7 % | 2024 | 146 of 192 |
| Merchandise exports | $1.3B | 2025 | 153 of 205 |
| Current account balance | -7.5 % | 2016 | 159 of 198 |
| Services exports | $345.3M | 2016 | 160 of 198 |
| Trade openness | 40.4 % | 2024 | 169 of 192 |
| Exports of goods and services | 11.7 % | 2024 | 177 of 192 |
Investment, Tourism & Aid 6
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official development aid received | 10.3 % | 1999 | 25 of 160 |
| Foreign direct investment inflows | 5.9 % | 2024 | 38 of 201 |
| Migrant remittances received | 7.1 % | 2016 | 46 of 196 |
| Foreign direct investment inflows (amount) | $439.5M | 2025 | 124 of 203 |
| International tourism receipts | $248M | 2016 | 126 of 201 |
| International tourist arrivals | 31,000 arr. | 2020 | 189 of 202 |
Public finances 1
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government final consumption | 23.5 % | 2017 | 32 of 187 |
Economic structure 7
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services | 65.2 % | 2019 | 53 of 202 |
| Household final consumption | 65.7 % | 2024 | 86 of 189 |
| Gross savings | 19.3 % | 2016 | 104 of 178 |
| Gross capital formation | 22.1 % | 2024 | 106 of 185 |
| Industry (including construction) | 22.3 % | 2019 | 111 of 205 |
| Manufacturing | 5.6 % | 2017 | 147 of 201 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1.8 % | 2019 | 153 of 203 |
Population & Vital Statistics 11
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys per 100 girls at birth | 105.9 per 100 girls | 2024 | 61 of 213 |
| Share of 15-64 year olds | 67.1 % | 2025 | 61 of 213 |
| Share of women in the population | 50.7 % | 2025 | 79 of 213 |
| Share of people aged 65 and over | 11.8 % | 2025 | 86 of 213 |
| Urban population | 68.2 % | 2025 | 95 of 213 |
| Median age of the population | 33.9 yrs | 2023 | 102 of 226 |
| Share of 0-14 year olds | 21.1 % | 2025 | 112 of 213 |
| Number of men per 100 women | 97.4 per 100 women | 2025 | 135 of 213 |
| Share of men in the population | 49.3 % | 2025 | 135 of 213 |
| Age dependency ratio | 49 per 100 | 2025 | 153 of 213 |
| Population | 295,333 inhab. | 2025 | 176 of 213 |
Births, deaths and life expectancy 7
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male life expectancy at birth | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | 57 of 213 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.9 yrs | 2024 | 58 of 213 |
| Female life expectancy at birth | 81.4 yrs | 2024 | 63 of 213 |
| Children per woman | 1.96 children/woman | 2024 | 102 of 213 |
| Population growth | 0.92 % | 2025 | 103 of 213 |
| Birth rate | 14 per 1,000 | 2024 | 105 of 213 |
| Death rate | 6.3 per 1,000 | 2024 | 143 of 213 |
Health and healthcare system 5
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to basic sanitation | 100 % | 2024 | 1 of 211 |
| Open defecation | 0 % | 2024 | 1 of 211 |
| Access to basic drinking water | 99.5 % | 2024 | 66 of 211 |
| Undernourishment | 4.1 % | 2024 | 75 of 167 |
| New tuberculosis cases | 18 per 100,000 | 2024 | 76 of 206 |
Body and lifestyle 2
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol consumption per capita | 8.2 L/person | 2024 | 61 of 202 |
| Diabetes prevalence | 22 % | 2024 | 197 of 207 |
Origins, languages and religions 12
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of immigrants in the population | 26.2 % | 2024 | 33 of 212 |
| Share of the population: Buddhists | 0.6 % | 2020 | 34 of 192 |
| Linguistic diversity (fractionalization index) | 0.66 | 2003 | 42 of 203 |
| Share of the population: Jews | 0 % | 2020 | 47 of 192 |
| Share of the population: people with no religious affiliation | 10.5 % | 2020 | 58 of 192 |
| Share of the population: Christians | 85.1 % | 2020 | 61 of 192 |
| Religious diversity (fractionalization index) | 0.55 | 2003 | 83 of 204 |
| Share of the population: other religions (including folk religions) | 1 % | 2020 | 97 of 192 |
| Share of the population: Muslims | 2.8 % | 2020 | 104 of 192 |
| Share of the population: Hindus | 0 % | 2020 | 129 of 192 |
| Ethnic diversity (fractionalization index) | 0 | 2003 | 189 of 205 |
| Majority religion | Christians (over 50%) | 2020 | 114 countries out of 192 in the same category |
Territory & Borders 8
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length of coastline | 2,254 km | 2026 | 54 of 227 |
| Total area | 18,576 km² | 2024 | 151 of 212 |
| Land area | 18,576 km² | 2024 | 151 of 212 |
| Number of neighboring countries | 0 countries | 2026 | 155 of 223 |
| Length of land borders | 0 km | 2026 | 162 of 230 |
| Population density | 15.8 inh./km² | 2024 | 195 of 212 |
| Latitude of the country's center | -21.3 ° | 2026 | 215 of 232 |
| Landlocked country | Has sea access | 2026 | 183 countries out of 227 in the same category |
Terrain, Water & Climate 3
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest point | 0 m | 2026 | 39 of 228 |
| Highest point | 1,628 m | 2026 | 137 of 229 |
| Population living less than 5 m above sea level | 10.9 % | 2015 | 174 of 212 |
Land & Nature 4
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land areas | 59.6 % | 2025 | 2 of 210 |
| Forest cover | 48.1 % | 2024 | 62 of 210 |
| Agricultural land | 9.8 % | 2024 | 175 of 207 |
| Arable land | 0.3 % | 2024 | 200 of 204 |
Democracy & Elections 1
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum voting age | 18 yrs | 2026 | 12 of 222 |
Governance & Rule of Law 4
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control of corruption (WGI) | 0.14 | 2025 | 85 of 205 |
| Rule of law (WGI) | 0.26 | 2025 | 86 of 205 |
| Political stability and absence of violence (WGI) | 0.29 | 2025 | 92 of 205 |
| Voice and accountability (WGI) | 0.07 | 2025 | 99 of 203 |
Justice and security 1
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.1 per 100,000 | 2009 | 101 of 192 |
Health and reproductive rights 1
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adolescent birth rate | 11.7 per 1,000 | 2024 | 67 of 213 |
Work and social rights 3
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal monthly minimum wage | $1,510 | 2024 | 18 of 168 |
| Statutory monthly minimum wage in purchasing power parity | $1,365 | 2021 | 37 of 168 |
| Population covered by at least one social benefit | 72.6 % | 2022 | 72 of 210 |
Civic duties 3
| Indicator | Value | Year | World position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of entry into primary school | 6 yrs | 2025 | 33 of 207 |
| Duration of compulsory schooling | 0 yrs | 2025 | 193 of 194 |
| Compulsory voting | Voluntary voting | 2026 | 199 countries out of 226 in the same category |
Frequently asked questions
How many people live in New Caledonia?
New Caledonia has about 295,333 inhabitants (2025), ranking 176 worldwide out of 213 countries.
What is the GDP per capita of New Caledonia?
GDP per capita is $29,213 /inh. (2024): New Caledonia ranks 57 out of 211 countries.
What is the inflation rate in New Caledonia?
Annual inflation is 0.6 % (2016); New Caledonia ranks 28 out of 191 (ranked from lowest to highest).
What is the unemployment rate in New Caledonia?
The unemployment rate is 11.2 % (2025); New Caledonia ranks 155 out of 184 (ranked from lowest to highest).
Where does New Caledonia stand in its region (Oceania)?
GDP per capita: New Caledonia has $29,213 /inh., above the regional median (Oceania: $8,489 /inh.).
Where do the figures on New Caledonia come from?
The data comes from public sources (World Bank, CIA World Factbook…), cited on each indicator page, with the year of each value.
Rank is the position in the world ranking for each indicator (the ranking direction is given on the indicator's page). Sources and update dates are on each indicator's page.