Page last updated on February 20, 2013

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: 24.5% (male 32,515/female 31,113)
[see also: Age structure 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-24 years: 17.1% (male 22,710/female 21,799)
25-54 years: 42.4% (male 55,417/female 54,850)
55-64 years: 8% (male 10,358/female 10,564)
65 years and over: 8% (male 9,335/female 11,505) (2012 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.4 years
[see also: Median age - total country ranks ]
male: 29.8 years
female: 31 years (2012 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.489% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
[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: 176
[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.)

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
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

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
female: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.94 years
country comparison to the world: 71
male: 72.88 years
female: 81.2 years (2012 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.04 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
[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
[see also: Education expenditures - percent of GDP country ranks ]

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
female: 95.5% (1996 census)