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New Caledonia
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Flag of New Caledonia Map of New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, showing the main island, nearby islands such as the Loyalty Islands, and surrounding reefs. The map highlights major towns, physical features like Mount Panie and Mount Humboldt, and includes a small inset map for regional context near Australia. Neighboring Vanuatu is labeled to the northeast. Île des Pins Map showing the location of New Caledonia, a French territory in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and northwest of New Zealand, with nearby countries and islands such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands labeled. The capital, Noumea, is marked within New Caledonia. New Caledonia MarĂ© Island Amborella trichopoda New Caledonia: Ethnic composition A traditional round thatched hut stands among tall palm trees on Lifou Island, New Caledonia. Population-density map of Pacific island countries and territories, with darker shading indicating more people per square kilometer. Naoero is the most densely populated, while many larger island groups, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia, have lower densities.
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Île des Pins
New Caledonia summary
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Island, New Caledonia.
Islands and Archipelagos
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New Caledonia: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Jocelyn Harewood, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, 5th ed. (2006), is a good general guidebook. A special issue of MwĂ  VĂ©Ă©: revue culturelle kanak, “Living Heritage: Kanak Culture Today” (October 2000), was produced in conjunction with the Pacific Arts Festival held in NoumĂ©a in 2000. Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer, Atlas de la Nouvelle-CalĂ©donie et dĂ©pendances (1983), gives an account of New Caledonia’s development, with detailed maps. Useful statistical sources include Comptes Ă©conomiques (annual) and publications of the Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques, France. Sociological studies include J.M. Kohler, Colonie ou democratie (1987); J.M. Kohler and P. Pillon, Impact de l’opĂ©ration cafĂ© en milieu MĂ©lanĂ©sien (1982); and K.R. Howe, The Loyalty Islands: A History of Culture Contacts, 1840–1900 (1977). Alain Saussol, L’HĂ©ritage: essai sur le problĂšme foncier mĂ©lanĂ©sien en Nouvelle-CalĂ©donie (1979); and Pierre Gascher, La Belle au bois dormant: regards sur l’administration coloniale en Nouvelle-CalĂ©donie de 1874 Ă  1894 (1974), provide accounts of French settlement. The most comprehensive history is John Connell, New Caledonia or Kanaky?: The Political History of a French Colony (1987). Kim Munholland, Rock of Contention: Free French and Americans at War in New Caledonia, 1940–1945 (2006), is an authoritative history of the World War II years.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Added media. Nov 02, 2026
Country Profile: Updated Head of government. Sep 02, 2026
Invalidated site: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme - New Caledonia. Dec 10, 2025
Add new Web site: Cultural Survival - Land and Independence in New Caledonia. May 17, 2025
Country Profile: Updated Heads of government. May 05, 2025
Country Profile: Updated Heads of government. Jan 15, 2025
Add new Web site: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme - New Caledonia. Aug 22, 2024
In the History section, updated with May 2024 unrest. May 24, 2024
Add new Web site: BBC News - New Caledonia profile. Nov 17, 2023
Country Profile: Updated Heads of government. Feb 07, 2023
Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of New Caledonia. Dec 05, 2022
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - New Caledonia. Sep 20, 2022
In the History section, updated with the results of the December 2021 referendum on independence. Jan 11, 2022
Country Profile: Revised footnote. Dec 15, 2021
Country Profile: Updated Heads of government. Jul 27, 2021
Country Profile: Updated heads of government. Jun 15, 2021
In the History section, updated with the results of the October 2020 referendum on independence. Oct 06, 2020
Country Profile: Updated head of government. Aug 07, 2019
Country Profile: Updated heads of government. Jul 09, 2019
In the History section, updated with the results of the November 2018 referendum on independence. Nov 08, 2018
Country Profile: Expanded country profile. Jun 14, 2018
Country Profile: Updated head of state. Jun 23, 2017
Country Profile: Updated Heads of government. Jul 20, 2016
In Economy section, updated information on major trade partners. May 20, 2016
Added locator map to the Introduction; in People and Economy sections, added data charts. May 20, 2016
Country Profile: Updated head of government. Apr 02, 2015
Country Profile: Updated head of government. Aug 19, 2014
Country Profile: Updated head of government. Apr 08, 2013
Add new Web site: Maps of World - New Caledonia. Feb 05, 2013
Add new Web site: Maps of World - New Caledonia. Feb 05, 2013
Country Profile: Updated for new president of France. May 18, 2012
Country Profile: Added name of head of state and head of government, along with urban-rural, life expectancy, literacy, and GNI per capita statistics. Feb 29, 2012
Media added. Jul 13, 2011
In the sentence discussing the naming of New Caledonia, changed "his native Scotland" to "his father's native Scotland." Jan 18, 2011
Country Profile: Updated area and population figures. Mar 12, 2010
Revised Government section to clarify the roles of the French president, the high commissioner, and the president of the New Caledonian government. Feb 23, 2010
Country Profile: Updated Official name; updated Political status. Oct 22, 2009
Changed status from overseas country to unique collectivity. Oct 22, 2009
Updated explanation of current political status from overseas country to unique collectivity. Oct 22, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - Geography of New Caledonia. Jul 30, 2008
Article revised and updated. Jul 22, 2008
History updated. Jan 27, 2008
Article thoroughly revised. Jan 27, 2008
Bibliography revised and updated. Jan 27, 2008
Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - New Caledonia. Jan 04, 2008
Added new Web site: Oceandots - New Caledonia. Feb 08, 2007
Article revised and updated. Dec 14, 2006
Added new Web site: Missouri Botanical Garden - Threats and Extinction. Dec 06, 2006
Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - New Caledonia. Jul 24, 2006
Added new Web site: Travel Document Systems - New Caledonia. Jul 21, 2006
Article revised. Aug 15, 2000
Article added to new online database. Aug 24, 1998
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