Country profile · East Asia & Pacific

🇳🇨 New Caledonia

High income. Capital Noum'ea. Full World Bank, WHO, ILO & OECD indicator profile across 28 measures, with regional peers and rankings.

292.6K
Population
$8.5 billion
GDP
$29,213
GDP / capita
78.8 years
Life expectancy
East Asia & Pacific High income Capital: Noum'ea

New Caledonia on the global income map

New Caledonia (NCL) plotted alongside its largest economic peers on GDP per capita and the Human Development Index. Bubble area scales with population; color encodes income tier; gold rings mark OECD members.

New Caledonia on the global income map New Caledonia positioned on the GDP-per-capita / HDI plane against its largest economic peers. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Human Development Index (0–1) India — GDP/cap $2,695 · lower-middle income IND China — GDP/cap $13,303 · upper-middle income CHN United States — GDP/cap $84,534 · high income · OECD USA Indonesia — GDP/cap $4,925 · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan — GDP/cap $1,479 · lower-middle income Nigeria — GDP/cap $1,084 · low income Brazil — GDP/cap $10,311 · upper-middle income Bangladesh — GDP/cap $2,593 · lower-middle income Russian Federation — GDP/cap $14,889 · high income Ethiopia — GDP/cap $1,134 · low income Mexico — GDP/cap $14,186 · high income · OECD Japan — GDP/cap $32,487 · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. — GDP/cap $3,338 · lower-middle income Philippines — GDP/cap $3,985 · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. — GDP/cap $649 · low income Viet Nam — GDP/cap $4,717 · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. — GDP/cap $5,190 · upper-middle income Turkiye — GDP/cap $15,893 · high income · OECD Germany — GDP/cap $56,104 · high income · OECD Thailand — GDP/cap $7,347 · upper-middle income United Kingdom — GDP/cap $53,246 · high income · OECD Tanzania — GDP/cap $1,187 · lower-middle income France — GDP/cap $46,103 · high income · OECD South Africa — GDP/cap $6,267 · upper-middle income Italy — GDP/cap $40,385 · high income · OECD Kenya — GDP/cap $2,132 · lower-middle income Myanmar — GDP/cap $1,359 · lower-middle income Colombia — GDP/cap $7,919 · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. — GDP/cap $36,239 · high income · OECD Sudan — GDP/cap $985 · low income New Caledonia — GDP/cap $29,213 · high income Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member

Indicators tracked

28

Across 8 topic areas

GDP per capita

$29,213

Latest WB report

Population

292.6K

UN estimate

OECD member

No

Outside OECD harmonized stats

Population
292.6K
GDP
$8.5 billion
GDP per Capita
$29,213
Life Expectancy
78.8 years

Overview

New Caledonia has a population of 292.6K, making it the 178th-most populous country out of 217 tracked in East Asia & Pacific.

Its economy totals $8.5 billion — ranked 159th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $29,213, placing it in the High income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 78.8 years (ranked 57th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Noum'ea.

👥 Demographics

Fertility Rate
2.0
2023
Population
292.6K
2024
Population Ages 0-14
21.3%
2024
Population Ages 65+
11.4%
2024
Population Density
15.9/km²
2023
Population Growth Rate
1.0%
2024
Urban Population
68.0%
2024

💰 Economy

Foreign Direct Investment
$725.8 million
2024
GDP (Current USD)
$8.5 billion
2024
GDP Growth Rate
-13.5%
2024
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$29,213.192
2024
GNI Per Capita
$30,070
2024
Inflation (Consumer Prices)
0.6%
2016
Trade (% of GDP)
40.4%
2024
Unemployment Rate
11.0%
2024

🏥 Health

Life Expectancy at Birth
78.8 years
2023

🌍 Environment

Forest Area
45.8
2023
Renewable Energy Consumption
9.6%
2022

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Clean Water
96.9%
2024
Access to Electricity
100.0%
2023
Internet Users
82.0%
2017
Mobile Subscriptions
91.7
2022

⚖️ Social

Female Labor Participation
51.6
2024
Intentional Homicides
3.1
2009
Male Labor Participation
62.4
2024
Net Migration
455
2024

💼 Labor & Wages

Average Monthly Earnings
$2,083/mo
2017
Average Weekly Hours Worked
37.2 hrs/wk
2020

🫀 Disease Burden

Key causes of death and disease risk in New Caledonia. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: latest available. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

Compare New Caledonia with Another Country

What the data says about New Caledonia

Every figure on this profile is a single measurement drawn from an official international dataset, and each one carries assumptions worth understanding before drawing conclusions. Income and output are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, so they move with currency swings as well as real growth, and national averages can hide wide gaps between regions and households. Health and demographic measures are period estimates compiled from vital registration, surveys, and statistical models, and their reporting year often lags the present by one to three years. Reading several indicators together, rather than fixating on a single headline number, is what turns a row of statistics into a grounded picture of how people in this country actually live, work, and age.

New Caledonia sits in East Asia & Pacific with a population of 292.6K, placing it 178th out of 217 countries by headcount. Its capital, Noum'ea, anchors a High income economy with total GDP of $8.5 billion — ranked 159th globally — and GDP per capita of $29,213. This combination of demographic scale and economic output shapes everything from household purchasing power and domestic market depth to the country's weight in regional trade flows and international development programmes.

Life expectancy at birth in New Caledonia is 78.8 years, ranking 57th worldwide and offering a summary read on healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and long-run living standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators, combined with the WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT wage statistics, expose 28 data points across 7 thematic areas — from fertility and urbanisation to CO₂ emissions, school enrolment, and labour-force participation. Reading these indicators together, rather than in isolation, is what turns headline numbers into a grounded portrait of how people actually live.

Use the indicator tables below to track trajectories over time, jump to New Caledonia's placement on specific rankings such as GDP, population density, or life expectancy, and open the side-by-side Compare view to benchmark against peers inside East Asia & Pacific or across income groups. Because all figures come from official, CC BY 4.0-licensed datasets with clear vintages, you can cite them directly in research or journalism. Where a field reads "N/A", the upstream agency has not yet released that value for New Caledonia — we never fabricate estimates or carry forward stale values, so missing points stay visible rather than quietly filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the data for New Caledonia come from?

Data for New Caledonia is sourced from the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, and ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours). These are official, publicly available datasets.

How current is the data for New Caledonia?

Data availability varies by indicator. Most recent data points range from 2020 to 2024, depending on the indicator and reporting frequency. World Bank indicators are updated annually, while WHO disease burden data follows the Global Burden of Disease study schedule.

Can I compare New Caledonia with other countries?

Yes. Use the Compare feature to see a side-by-side comparison of New Caledonia with any other country across all available indicators. You can also explore rankings to see where New Caledonia stands globally on specific measures like GDP, population, or life expectancy.

What does GDP per capita tell us about New Caledonia?

GDP per capita divides New Caledonia's total economic output by its population, giving an approximate measure of average economic productivity per person. It is reported in current US dollars. For fairer cross-country comparisons, purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments account for differences in the cost of goods and services.

How does New Caledonia's life expectancy compare to the global average?

Life expectancy at birth for New Caledonia is 78.8 years, ranking 57th out of 217 countries tracked. The global average is approximately 73 years. Life expectancy reflects healthcare quality, nutrition, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions.

Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for New Caledonia?

PlainCountries focuses on development indicators, health data, and economic statistics. For visa requirements and immigration policies, visit PlainVisa at plainvisa.com. For international flight route data, check PlainFlights at plainflights.com.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the World Bank, WHO, ILO, and OECD. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.