New Caledonia

Oceania · Melanesia · capital Nouméa

About New Caledonia

The capital of New Caledonia is Nouméa. Nouméa is the seat of national government for New Caledonia, a country in Melanesia.

New Caledonia has a population of about 289,870 people, the 185th largest population in the world. Population figures come from World Bank estimates.

New Caledonia covers 18,575 square kilometers (7,172 square miles), making New Caledonia the 156th largest country in the world by area.

New Caledonia shares no land border with any other country. No neighboring state can be reached from New Caledonia overland.

Life expectancy at birth in New Caledonia is 78.8 years, the 56th highest of any country in the world.

New Caledonia is in Oceania, in the Melanesia region. New Caledonia is one of 27 countries and territories in Oceania.

Data updated April 1, 2026

Statistics and world rankings for New Caledonia
Populationtotal people	289.9Kpeople	185th
Land Areatotal km²	18.6Kkm²	156th
GDP per PersonUSD per person	$33.7K	48th
Total GDPUSD · whole economy	$9.8B	155th
Life Expectancyyears, at birth	78.8years	56th
Urban Population% living in cities	67.8%	97th
Internet Users% of people online	no data
Fertility Ratechildren per woman	1.98births/woman	104th
Tourist Arrivalsvisitors per year	31.0Karrivals/year	167th
Forest Cover% of land forested	45.8%	61st
Unemployment Rate% of labor force	10.9%	36th
Military Spending% of GDP	no data
Renewable Energy% of energy use	9.6%	148th
Inflation Rateannual CPI change	no data
Beer Consumptionliters per year	no data
Coffee Consumptionkg per year	no data
Wine Consumptionliters per year	no data
Education Spending% of GDP	no data
Health Spending% of GDP	no data
Arable Land% of land arable	0.3%	201st
Foreign Direct InvestmentUSD inflow/year	$687.2M	107th