New Caledonia

The following is the entry for New Caledonia from the CIA World Fact Book, 1992 edition.

:New Caledonia Geography

Total area:

19,060 km2

Land area:

18,760 km2

Comparative area:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

none

Coastline:

2,254 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes:

none

Climate:

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain:

coastal plains with interior mountains

Natural resources:

nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:

arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 14%; forest and woodland 51%; other 35%

Environment:

typhoons most frequent from November to March

Note:

located 1,750 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

:New Caledonia People

Population:

174,805 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)

Birth rate:

23 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate:

5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Net migration rate:

1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth:

70 years male, 76 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate:

2.7 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality:

noun - New Caledonian(s); adjective - New Caledonian

Ethnic divisions:

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3.0%

Religions:

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

Languages:

French; 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy:

91% (male 91%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)

Labor force:

50,469; foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)

Organized labor:

:New Caledonia Government

Long-form name:

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

Type:

overseas territory of France since 1956

Capital:

Noumea

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence:

none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence will be held in 1998, with a review of the issue in 1992

Constitution:

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

National holiday:

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Executive branch:

French President, high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Assembly

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal

Leaders:

Chief of State:

President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)

Head of Government:

High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991)

Suffrage:

universal adult at age 18

Elections:

Territorial Assembly:

last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993); results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%; seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5; note - election boycotted by FULK

French Senate:

last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPCR 1

French National Assembly:

last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2

Member of:

FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO

Diplomatic representation:

as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France

Flag:

the flag of France is used

:New Caledonia Economy

Overview:

New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.

GNP:

exchange rate conversion - $1.0 billion, per capita $6,000 (1991 est.); real growth rate 2.4% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (1989)

Unemployment rate:

16.0% (1989)

Budget:

revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Exports:

$671 million (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities:

nickel metal 87%, nickel ore

partners:

France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%

Imports:

$764 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities:

foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment

partners:

France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%

External debt:

$NA

Industrial production:

growth rate NA%

Electricity:

400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 12,790 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries:

nickel mining

Agriculture:

large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

Illicit drugs:

illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for some families

Economic aid:

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4,185 million

Currency:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural - francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 97.81 (January 1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year:

calendar year

:New Caledonia Communications

Highways:

6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987)

Ports:

Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio

Civil air:

1 major transport aircraft

Airports:

29 total, 27 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications:

32,578 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:New Caledonia Defense Forces

Branches:

Gendarmerie, Police Force

Manpower availability:

males 15-49, 46,388; NA fit for military service

Note:

defense is the responsibility of France

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