Page last updated on February 27,

Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2% (1996 census)

Languages:
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Population:
260,166 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
[see also: Population country ranks ]

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 32,653/female 31,236)
[see also: Age structure 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 86,865/female 85,578)
[see also: Age structure 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 8,954/female 10,989) (2011 est.)
[see also: Age structure 65 years and over country ranks ]

Median age:
total: 30.1 years
[see also: Median age - total country ranks ]
male: 29.6 years
[see also: Median age - male country ranks ]
female: 30.7 years (2011 est.)
[see also: Median age - female country ranks ]

Population growth rate:
1.489% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
[see also: Population growth rate country ranks ]

Birth rate:
16.05 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
[see also: Birth rate country ranks ]

Death rate:
5.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
[see also: Death rate country ranks ]

Net migration rate:
4.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 23
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2012 est.)
[see also: Net migration rate country ranks ]

Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2010)
[see also: Urbanization - urban population country ranks ]
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
[see also: Urbanization - rate of urbanization country ranks ]

Major cities - population:
NOUMEA (capital) 144,000 (2009)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - at birth country ranks ]
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - under 15 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 65 years and over country ranks ]
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2012 est.)
[see also: Sex ratio - total population country ranks ]

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births
[see also: Infant mortality rate - male country ranks ]
female: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
[see also: Infant mortality rate - female country ranks ]

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.94 years
country comparison to the world: 70
male: 72.88 years
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - male country ranks ]
female: 81.2 years (2012 est.)
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - female country ranks ]

Total fertility rate:
2.04 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
[see also: Total fertility rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
[see also: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
[see also: HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
[see also: HIV/AIDS - deaths country ranks ]

Education expenditures:
NA

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
[see also: Literacy - male country ranks ]
female: 95.5% (1996 census)
[see also: Literacy - female country ranks ]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
NA