Economy - overview:
New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy; during 2009-10, France sent more development assistance to New Caledonia than to any of its other overseas territories. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.158 billion (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.3 billion (2003 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
[see also: GDP - composition by sector - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 28.3%
services: 69.6% (2012 est.)

Labor force:
102,600 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 183
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002)

Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 154
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
NA%
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $996 million
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $1.072 billion (2001 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:
30.2% of GDP (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.3% of GDP (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24