New Caledonia

New Caledonia is an island in the South Pacific located some 1,469 km east of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 290,009 inhabitants.

The island covers an area of 18,575 sq. km, of which 27,986 sq. km or 98.38% is land while the remaining 300 sq. km or 1.62% is water, averaging 16 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 0.4% or 74.3 sq. km is arable. Almost 45.9% of the total land available or 8,523.93 sq. km is covered with forests.

The island’s total GDP is valued at 9.77 billion. The services sector is the island’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 72.1% of total GDP or 737.97 billion. The services sector is followed by industry which accounts for 26.4% or 2.40 billion of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 1.4% or 0.14 billion of total GDP.

The island’s total labor force is estimated at 119,500 or 41.21% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 74.9% or 89,506 are employed in the services sector, 22.4% or 26,768 are employed in the industrial sector and 2.7% or 3,227 are employed in the agricultural sector. 

The island’s main industries include nickel mining and smelting.

The island’s main agricultural produce include vegetables; beef, venison, other livestock products; and fish. 

The islands primary exports are ferronickel, nickel ore, and fish.

New Caledonia’s major export partners include China 25.4%, Japan 16.6%, South Korea 14.8%, France 8.2%, Belgium 5%, and the United States 4.6%. Its major import partners are France 24.2%, Singapore 13.1%, China 9.2%, Australia 7.1%, South Korea 5.2%, Malaysia 4.7%, New Zealand 4.4%, and the United States 4.4%.