PopulationTracker

New Caledonia population

Current population of New Caledonia

298,321

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
2
Deaths today
1
Change today (UTC)
+1
World rank
179th of 218
0.00% of world population
Population
295,333
2025 estimate
Annual growth
+0.92%
2025
Density
16 /km²
2023
Land area
18,280 km²
Urban population
68%
2025
Median age
34.5 yrs
2025 (UN WPP)
Fertility rate
1.96
births per woman, 2024
Life expectancy
78.9 yrs
2024
Net migration
+440
2025
Capital
Noum'ea
Region
East Asia & Pacific

Population of New Caledonia: overview

New Caledonia is home to 295,333 people (2025 estimate), ranking 179th in the world by population. New Caledonia is part of the East Asia & Pacific region and its capital is Noum'ea.

The population is growing steadily, at 0.92% per year. In absolute terms that meant roughly 2,694 additional people over the past year.

The country is sparsely settled, with only about 16 people per km², spread across 18,280 km² of land. A slim urban majority has emerged, with 68% of people living in cities.

The median age is 34.5 years. Fertility, at 1.96 children per woman, hovers just below the 2.1 replacement level. Life expectancy at birth is 78.9 years (2024).

UN medium-variant projections point to continued growth, reaching 340.58 thousand by 2050 (15% above today's level). The 2030 projection is 307,577.

New Caledonia population, 1960–2025 and projections

075K150K225K300K375K19601980200020202040projected2025: 295.33K1960: 79,8191961: 82,5211962: 85,3341963: 88,0501964: 90,6021965: 93,1591966: 95,8201967: 98,5871968: 101,4411969: 104,8491970: 109,3381971: 114,5141972: 119,9311973: 125,5851974: 131,4521975: 137,4621976: 142,0911977: 144,5991978: 146,3921979: 148,1321980: 149,8171981: 151,4411982: 153,0011983: 155,0031984: 157,5831985: 160,2341986: 162,8981987: 165,6501988: 168,5021989: 172,0291990: 176,4561991: 181,2381992: 186,0721993: 190,8571994: 195,6141995: 200,3791996: 205,0341997: 209,5601998: 214,0471999: 218,5272000: 223,0982001: 227,7072002: 232,2362003: 236,6782004: 240,8522005: 244,3812006: 247,5472007: 250,7252008: 253,8252009: 257,2502010: 261,5822011: 266,5432012: 271,6332013: 276,8222014: 281,2242015: 283,1682016: 283,4232017: 283,5462018: 283,5412019: 283,6062020: 284,1762021: 285,2142022: 287,1232023: 289,8702024: 292,6392025: 295,3332030: 307,5772050: 340,580
Population of New Caledonia by year
YearPopulationGrowth rateAnnual change
2025295,333+0.92%+2,694
2024292,639+0.95%+2,769
2023289,870+0.95%+2,747
2022287,123+0.67%+1,909
2021285,214+0.36%+1,038
2020284,176+0.20%+570
2019283,606+0.02%+65
2018283,541−0.00%−5
2017283,546+0.04%+123
2016283,423+0.09%+255
2015283,168+0.69%+1,944
2014281,224+1.58%+4,402
2010261,582+1.67%+4,332
2005244,381+1.45%+3,529
2000223,098+2.07%+4,571
1995200,379+2.41%+4,765
1990176,456+2.54%+4,427
1985160,234+1.67%+2,651
1980149,817+1.13%+1,685
1975137,462+4.47%+6,010
1970109,338+4.19%+4,489
196593,159+2.78%+2,557
196079,819––

Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.

New Caledonia population forecast

United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.

Projected population of New Caledonia
YearProjected populationvs today
2030307,577+4.1%
2050340,580+15.3%

New Caledonia population pyramid (2025)

Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 21.1% of New Caledonia's population is under 15, 67.1% is of working age (15–64), and 11.8% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.

MaleFemale
0%1%1%2%2%3%3%4%4%0-4 male: 10,595 (3.6%)0-4 female: 10,038 (3.4%)0-45-9 male: 10,540 (3.6%)5-9 female: 10,143 (3.4%)10-14 male: 10,594 (3.6%)10-14 female: 10,373 (3.5%)10-1415-19 male: 10,736 (3.6%)15-19 female: 10,550 (3.6%)20-24 male: 10,771 (3.6%)20-24 female: 10,796 (3.7%)20-2425-29 male: 9,819 (3.3%)25-29 female: 9,767 (3.3%)30-34 male: 10,181 (3.4%)30-34 female: 10,496 (3.6%)30-3435-39 male: 10,632 (3.6%)35-39 female: 11,024 (3.7%)40-44 male: 10,258 (3.5%)40-44 female: 10,578 (3.6%)40-4445-49 male: 9,368 (3.2%)45-49 female: 10,063 (3.4%)50-54 male: 9,755 (3.3%)50-54 female: 10,306 (3.5%)50-5455-59 male: 8,812 (3.0%)55-59 female: 9,243 (3.1%)60-64 male: 7,462 (2.5%)60-64 female: 7,650 (2.6%)60-6465-69 male: 5,641 (1.9%)65-69 female: 6,199 (2.1%)70-74 male: 4,321 (1.5%)70-74 female: 4,634 (1.6%)70-7475-79 male: 3,355 (1.1%)75-79 female: 3,586 (1.2%)80-84 male: 1,851 (0.6%)80-84 female: 2,397 (0.8%)80-8485-89 male: 785 (0.3%)85-89 female: 1,222 (0.4%)90-94 male: 198 (0.1%)90-94 female: 449 (0.2%)90-9495-99 male: 31 (0.0%)95-99 female: 103 (0.0%)100+ male: 2 (0.0%)100+ female: 11 (0.0%)100+

New Caledonia population FAQ

What is the population of New Caledonia in 2026?

New Caledonia's population is estimated at about 298.32 thousand in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 295,333 (2025). New Caledonia ranks 179th in the world by population.

Is the population of New Caledonia growing or shrinking?

New Caledonia's population is growing at about 0.92% per year, an increase of roughly 2,694 people over the past year.

How densely populated is New Caledonia?

New Caledonia has about 16 people per square kilometre across a land area of 18,280 km².

What share of the world's population lives in New Caledonia?

New Caledonia is home to about 0.00% of the world's population.

What is New Caledonia's projected population in 2050?

United Nations medium-variant projections put New Caledonia's population at 340,580 in 2050, passing through 307,577 in 2030.

What is the median age in New Caledonia?

The median age in New Caledonia is 34.5 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.

Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.