Nations by Numbers

East Asia & Pacific

New Caledonia in numbers

New Caledonia is in East Asia & Pacific and is classed by the World Bank as high income. Its capital is Noum'ea. Its population was 295,333 in 2025, ranking 178 of 217 countries. GDP per person was US$29,213 in 2024.

Population295,3332025
GDPUS$8.5 billion2024
GDP per personUS$29,2132024
Life expectancy78.92024
Area18,5762024
Urban share68.2%2025

People

Population

295,333
2025 · +32% since 2000 · Rank 178 of 217

Population growth (annual %)

0.92%
2025 · 2.07% in 2000 · Rank 106 of 217

Population density (people per km²)

15.8
2024 · +29% since 2000 · Rank 199 of 216

Urban population (% of total)

68.2%
2025 · 61.6% in 2000 · Rank 97 of 217

Population aged 0 to 14 (% of total)

21.1%
2025 · 29.8% in 2000 · Rank 114 of 217

Population aged 65 and over (% of total)

11.8%
2025 · 5.4% in 2000 · Rank 88 of 217

Fertility rate (births per woman)

1.96
2024 · -22% since 2000 · Rank 104 of 217

Health and living standards

Life expectancy at birth (years)

78.9
2024 · +7% since 2000 · Rank 60 of 217

Access to electricity (% of population)

100.0%
2024 · 100.0% in 2000 · Rank 42 of 215

Internet users (% of population)

82.0%
2017 · 13.9% in 2000

Economy

GDP (current US$)

US$8.5 billion
2024 · +150% since 2000 · Rank 158 of 210

GDP per person (current US$)

US$29,213
2024 · +91% since 2000 · Rank 58 of 210

GDP growth (annual %)

-13.50%
2024 · 2.10% in 2000 · Rank 210 of 210

Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)

0.58%
2016 · 2.43% in 2011

Unemployment (% of labour force, ILO estimate)

11.2%
2025 · 17.9% in 2000 · Rank 32 of 187

Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)

11.7%
2024 · 22.8% in 2000 · Rank 170 of 183

Personal remittances received (% of GDP)

7.1%
2016 · 8.9% in 2002

Land and environment

Land and water area (km²)

18,576
2024 · -0% since 2000 · Rank 152 of 216

Forest area (% of land area)

48.1%
2024 · 45.8% in 2000 · Rank 62 of 214

CO₂ emissions per person (tonnes)

17.08
2024 · +77% since 2000 · Rank 10 of 203

Elsewhere in East Asia & Pacific

American SamoaAustraliaBrunei DarussalamChinaFijiMicronesia, Fed. Sts.GuamHong Kong SAR, ChinaIndonesiaJapanCambodiaKiribati

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, updated 8 October 2026. Each figure is the latest year available for New Caledonia. Rankings compare countries with data from the same or recent years.