New Caledonia

New Caledonia is an island group located in the South Pacific east of Australia. The French overseas territory is comprised of the 400 km long major island "Grande Terre" divided in a Northern and a Southern province, the archipelago of Belep in northwest, the île des Pins in southeast and the Loyalty islands Ouvéa, Lifou, Tiga and Maré located northeast of the main island.

geograhically relative close to: Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Zealand

related countries: France

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)