New Caledonia belongs to Melanesia, and it is a dependent territory rather than a country in the political sense. Unlike most entries, its formal name adds nothing to the short one. Nouméa is the capital.
By land area it covers 18,575 km², which ranks it 157th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Slovenia and just ahead of Fiji. Put next to a territory most people can picture, it is about half again the size of Qatar.
Around 292,639 people live there, placing it 185th of 250 by population — between French Guiana above it and Barbados below. Among the 5 entries in Melanesia it ranks 3rd by area and 5th by population.
Where New Caledonia is and what surrounds it
The coordinates the dataset gives are 21.5° S, 165.5° E, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 2,393 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Namibia, Madagascar and Botswana sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
No land border connects it to another territory. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, which shapes how it trades and who it deals with.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of New Caledonia
Spread across 18,575 km², that works out at about 16 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
People from New Caledonia are called New Caledonians.
French is the only official language. French is one of the widely shared official languages here, listed by 45 other entries including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso and Burundi.
Inside Oceania it places 7th of 27 by population, and it accounts for 2.3% of everyone living in Melanesia.
Currency and codes
Money there is the CFP franc (â‚£, XPF). It shares that currency with French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.
Websites there use the .nc domain. The international dialling code is +687. Its ISO codes are nc and NCL, which is what most databases and flag files use.
Nouméa is the city to remember for this territory.
It does not hold a UN seat of its own. The dataset does not record which state administers it, so this page does not guess. Of the 250 entries here, 57 are territories or observers rather than member states.
Fun facts about New Caledonia
- It is a territory rather than a UN member state.
- Within Melanesia it is the 3rd largest of 5.
- Population density works out at roughly 16 people per square kilometre.
- French is official here and in 45 other entries worldwide.
- Websites based there use the .nc domain.
- It has no land border with any other country — one of 85 such entries in this dataset.
- Its currency, the CFP franc, is shared with 2 other entries.
New Caledonia — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of New Caledonia?
- The capital of New Caledonia is Nouméa.
- Where is New Caledonia located?
- New Caledonia is in Melanesia, part of Oceania. Its reference coordinates are 21.5° south and 165.5° east, roughly 2,393 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- What currency does New Caledonia use?
- New Caledonia uses the CFP franc, written â‚£ (currency code XPF). It is shared with 2 other entries: French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.
- Does New Caledonia border any other country?
- No. New Caledonia has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
- How big is New Caledonia?
- New Caledonia covers 18,575 km², ranking 157th of 250 by land area. That makes it about half again the size of Qatar.
- What language is spoken in New Caledonia?
- The official language of New Caledonia is French. It is also official in 45 other entries on this list.
- Is New Caledonia a country?
- Not in the political sense. New Caledonia is a dependent territory rather than a sovereign state, and it is not a UN member. It appears on this site because it has its own flag, codes and statistics, but it does not have a seat at the United Nations.
- What is the population of New Caledonia?
- New Caledonia has a population of about 292,639, which makes it the 185th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. French Guiana sits just above it and Barbados just below.
