New Caledonia

Territory in Oceania

In brief

Population: 295.3K (2025). World rank 178 of 216; in Oceania, 7 of 19. Born in another country: 26.2% (2024). World rank 34 of 215; in Oceania, 7 of 19. Life expectancy, men: 76.5 years (2024). World rank 58 of 216 (1 = best); in Oceania, 5 of 19. From 2015 to 2025: population 283.2K → 295.3K, population growth per year +0.7% → +0.9%, and living in cities 66.8% → 68.2%.

Population and migration

Population: 295,333 2025
Population density: 15.9 per km² 2025
Population growth per year: +0.9% 2025
Living in cities: 68.2% 2025
Net migration per year: +440 2025
Born in another country: 26.2% 2024

Age and life expectancy

Aged 0–14: 21.1% 2025
Aged 15–64: 67.1% 2025
Aged 65 and over: 11.8% 2025
Life expectancy: 78.9 years 2024
Life expectancy, women: 81.4 years 2024
Life expectancy, men: 76.5 years 2024

Births and deaths

Children per woman: 2 2024
Births per 1,000 people: 14 2024
Deaths per 1,000 people: 6.3 2024

Society

Languages: French
Religions: Christian 85.2%, no religion 10.4%, Muslim 2.8%, and other 1.6% (2020)