Official Name:
Territoire des Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dependances
short form: Nouvelle-Calédonie
int'l long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
int'l short form: New Caledonia
ISO Country Code: nc
Time:
Local Time = UTC
+11h
Country Calling Code: +687
Capital City: Nouméa
Government:
Overseas territory of France since 1956.
Chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
Geography:
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
Area: land: 18,575 sq km; total: 19,060 sq
km.
Terrain: Coastal plains with interior mountains.
Climate: Moderate, tropical oceanic, hot and humid; modified by southeast
trade winds.
People:
Nationality: New Caledonian(s);
Population: 213 000
Ethnic Groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,
Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%.
Languages:
French (official), more than 30 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects.
Literacy: 91%
Natural resources: Nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold,
lead, copper.
Agriculture - products: Vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products.
Exports partners: Japan 23.1%, France
17.5%, Taiwan 14.3%, Spain 8.4%,
South Korea 8.4%, South
Africa 5.3%, Australia 4.5% (2004)
Imports partners: France 47.3%, Singapore
12.3%, Australia 9.6%, New
Zealand 4.8% (2004)
Currency: (Frankly CFP or XPF) Euro (EUR)