New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French unique collectivity located in the southwestern South Pacific Ocean. It consists of the islands of New Caledonia, Walpole, Isle of Pines, and several other island groups. The main island, New Caledonia, is home to rich deposits of nickel that are among the largest in the world.
The total area of New Caledonia is 18,567 square kilometers (7,169 square miles), with an estimated population of 272,900 as of 2022. Nouméa is the capital of the territory. Matthew and Hunter, two small islands located east of New Caledonia, are claimed by both France and Vanuatu.
New Caledonia became a French overseas territory in 1946. In 1987 and 2018, residents voted by referendum to remain part of France. The official language of the territory is French, and the official religion is none. The legislative body of New Caledonia is the Congress, which consists of 54 members.
In terms of economic indicators, New Caledonia had a Gross National Income (GNI) of 9,880 million U.S. dollars in 2019, with a GNI per capita of 36,415 U.S. dollars. In 2018, 70.7% of the population was considered urban, while 29.3% was considered rural. In 2017, the life expectancy at birth was 73.9 years for males and 82 years for females. Moreover, 98% of the population aged 15 and over was literate in 2014.