New Caledonia, a French territory located in the South Pacific, has experienced relatively modest population growth over recent decades. As of 2023, its population is estimated at around 270,000 people. Growth has slowed compared to previous decades, largely due to low birth rates and net emigration, particularly among young people seeking education and employment opportunities abroad. The population is ethnically diverse, with Kanaks (the indigenous Melanesian people), Europeans (mainly of French descent), and other groups such as Wallisians, Futunians, and Indonesians. Urbanization is significant, with the majority of residents living in or around the capital, Nouméa. Looking ahead, demographic projections suggest that New Caledonia’s population will continue to grow slowly, shaped by migration patterns and ongoing social and economic changes.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 55,069 | 3 |
| 1955 | 64,948 | 3.6 |
| 1960 | 78,804 | 4.3 |
| 1965 | 90,360 | 4.9 |
| 1970 | 112,000 | 6.1 |
| 1975 | 133,000 | 7.3 |
| 1980 | 139,400 | 7.6 |
| 1985 | 152,587 | 8.3 |
| 1990 | 168,903 | 9.2 |
| 1995 | 191,780 | 10.5 |
| 2000 | 211,189 | 11.6 |
| 2005 | 232,395 | 12.7 |
| 2010 | 252,363 | 13.8 |
| 2015 | 271,652 | 14.9 |
| 2020 | 290,033 | 15.9 |
| 2022 | 297,160 | 16.3 |
| 2023 | 300,682 | 16.5 |
| 2024 | 304,167 | 16.6 |
| 2025 | 307,612 | 16.8 |
| 2030 | 324,192 | 17.7 |
| 2035 | 339,444 | 18.6 |
| 2040 | 353,269 | 19.3 |
| 2045 | 365,748 | 20 |
| 2050 | 376,851 | 20.6 |
| 2055 | 386,473 | 21.1 |
| 2060 | 394,571 | 21.6 |
| 2065 | 401,186 | 22 |
| 2070 | 406,486 | 22.2 |
| 2075 | 410,679 | 22.5 |
| 2080 | 413,881 | 22.6 |
| 2085 | 416,153 | 22.8 |
| 2090 | 417,607 | 22.9 |
| 2095 | 418,429 | 22.9 |
| 2100 | 418,866 | 22.9 |
Data from US Census International Database