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New Caledonia

Oceania · Melanesia · NCL · 18,575 km²
Population
292,639
Year 2024

Total number of people living in the country.

Population Density
15.9/km²

How many people live per square kilometer of land.

Life Expectancy
78.8 years
♂ 76.3 / ♀ 81.3

How long a newborn baby can expect to live on average.

Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.98
children per woman

Average number of children born to each woman. About 2.1 is needed to keep population stable.

Median Age
36.3 years

Half the population is younger and half is older than this age.

Net Migration
455

Difference between people moving in and out. Positive means more arrivals.

Key demographic indicators for New Caledonia as of 2024. These numbers give a quick overview of the country's population size, density, birth rates, life expectancy, and migration patterns.

Population Trend

How the total population has changed over the decades. A rising line means the country has been growing, a flat or falling line indicates stagnation or decline.

Population Projection to 2100

Estimated future population based on current trends in birth rates, death rates, and migration. The dashed line shows this is a projection, not actual data.

Birth Rate vs Death Rate

Birth rate (green) vs. death rate (red) per 1,000 people per year. When the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population grows naturally.

Life Expectancy (Male vs Female)

Average number of years a newborn can expect to live. Blue shows men, red shows women. Women typically live longer in most countries.

Fertility Rate Trend

Total Fertility Rate — the average number of children per woman. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to maintain the population without immigration.

Population Pyramid

Shows the age distribution of the population. Blue bars (left) represent men, red bars (right) represent women. A wide base means a young population, a wide top means an aging population.

Historical Data

Detailed numbers for selected years showing how the country's key indicators have changed over time. Click column headers to sort.

Year Population Growth Rate Fertility Rate (TFR) Life Expectancy Median Age Birth Rate Death Rate
1960 79,819 0.00% 5.44 52.3 25.0 37.1‰ 14.5‰
1965 93,159 2.78% 5.31 56.1 24.4 35.5‰ 11.9‰
1970 109,338 4.19% 5.07 60.1 24.0 35.0‰ 9.4‰
1975 137,462 4.47% 4.46 63.2 23.6 31.4‰ 7.9‰
1980 149,817 1.13% 3.66 65.6 24.8 27.6‰ 7.0‰
1985 160,234 1.67% 3.05 67.8 26.7 24.0‰ 6.3‰
1990 176,456 2.54% 3.10 69.5 28.5 25.3‰ 5.9‰
1995 200,379 2.41% 2.65 71.3 29.9 22.3‰ 5.5‰
2000 223,098 2.07% 2.51 73.6 30.6 21.2‰ 5.2‰
2005 244,381 1.45% 2.23 74.9 31.7 18.1‰ 5.2‰
2010 261,582 1.67% 2.19 76.0 33.2 16.8‰ 5.5‰
2015 283,168 0.69% 2.08 77.2 34.3 15.7‰ 5.7‰
2020 284,176 0.20% 2.02 77.0 35.5 14.9‰ 7.4‰
2024 292,639 0.95% 1.98 78.8 36.3 14.3‰ 6.3‰
2025 295,421 0.95% 1.98 78.9 36.3 14.3‰ 6.3‰
2030 309,151 0.89% 1.97 79.4 36.4 14.0‰ 6.5‰
2035 322,504 0.82% 1.96 79.9 36.4 13.7‰ 6.6‰
2040 335,378 0.76% 1.94 80.4 36.4 13.4‰ 6.8‰
2045 347,671 0.70% 1.93 80.9 36.5 13.1‰ 7.0‰
2050 359,282 0.63% 1.92 81.4 36.5 12.8‰ 7.2‰
2055 370,113 0.57% 1.91 81.9 36.5 12.6‰ 7.4‰
2060 380,070 0.51% 1.90 82.4 36.6 12.3‰ 7.5‰
2065 389,068 0.44% 1.88 82.9 36.6 12.0‰ 7.7‰
2070 397,023 0.38% 1.87 83.4 36.6 11.7‰ 7.9‰
2075 403,864 0.32% 1.86 83.9 36.7 11.4‰ 8.1‰
2080 409,527 0.25% 1.85 84.4 36.7 11.1‰ 8.3‰
2085 413,958 0.19% 1.84 84.9 36.7 10.9‰ 8.5‰
2090 417,116 0.13% 1.82 85.4 36.8 10.6‰ 8.6‰
2095 418,970 0.06% 1.81 85.9 36.8 10.3‰ 8.8‰
2100 419,502 0.00% 1.80 86.4 36.8 10.0‰ 9.0‰

About Country — New Caledonia

New Caledonia is a country in Oceania (Melanesia) with a total population of 292,639 as of 2024. It covers an area of 18,575 km², resulting in a population density of 15.9 people per km².

The average life expectancy is 78.8 years (76.3 for men, 81.3 for women). The fertility rate stands at 1.98 children per woman, and the median age of the population is 36.3 years.

The country's population growth rate is 0.95% per year. Net migration is 455 people, indicating that more people are moving into the country than leaving. The infant mortality rate is 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

Demographic Profile

New Caledonia is located in Melanesia, a part of Oceania, and covers an area of 18,575 km². With a population of 292,639, the country has a population density of 15.9 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is below the global average of approximately 60 people per km².

The demographic structure of New Caledonia reveals an aging population. The median age of 36.3 years means that half of the population is younger and half is older than this age. This aging population structure poses challenges for pension systems, healthcare provision, and the labor market, as the ratio of working-age to retired individuals continues to decline.

Health and Longevity

Life expectancy in New Caledonia stands at 78.8 years overall — 76.3 years for men and 81.3 years for women. This places the country among those with high life expectancy globally, reflecting well-developed healthcare systems and living standards. The infant mortality rate is 0.0 per 1,000 live births, which is considered very low and indicates excellent maternal and infant healthcare.

Fertility and Population Growth

The total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.98 children per woman is near the replacement level of 2.1, suggesting population stability. The population is growing at a rate of 0.95% per year. This moderate growth rate reflects a balance between natural increase and migration patterns.

Migration

Net migration in New Caledonia is 455 people, meaning more people are moving into the country than leaving. The country serves as a destination for migrants, which helps offset low natural population growth and fills labor market needs.

Outlook

Based on current demographic trends, New Caledonia's population dynamics reflect broader patterns seen across Melanesia. As the population ages, adapting social security systems and healthcare to serve a growing elderly population will be a key challenge.

Year Reviews

2024

In 2024, New Caledonia had a population of 292,639. Located in Oceania (Melanesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.95%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.98 children per woman. Life expectancy was 78.8 years overall, with men averaging 76.3 years and women 81.3 years. The median age of the population was 36.3 years.

The crude birth rate was 14.3 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 6.3 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 455 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

2000

In 2000, New Caledonia had a population of 223,098. Located in Oceania (Melanesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 2.07%.

The total fertility rate stood at 2.51 children per woman. Life expectancy was 73.6 years overall, with men averaging 70.5 years and women 76.9 years. The median age of the population was 30.6 years.

The crude birth rate was 21.2 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 5.2 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 1,070 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

1974

In 1974, New Caledonia had a population of 131,452. Located in Oceania (Melanesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 4.57%.

The total fertility rate stood at 4.69 children per woman. Life expectancy was 62.7 years overall, with men averaging 59.5 years and women 66.7 years. The median age of the population was 23.5 years.

The crude birth rate was 32.7 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 8.2 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 2,739 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

1964

In 1964, New Caledonia had a population of 90,602. Located in Oceania (Melanesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 2.86%.

The total fertility rate stood at 5.37 children per woman. Life expectancy was 55.3 years overall, with men averaging 51.7 years and women 59.8 years. The median age of the population was 24.5 years.

The crude birth rate was 36.0 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 12.4 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 388 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

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