Country: New Caledonia (overseas territory of France) - Geography Total area: 19,060 km2; land area: 18,760 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: none Coastline: 2,254 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; Extended economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper Land use: NEGL% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 14% meadows and pastures; 51% forest and woodland; 35% other Environment: typhoons most frequent from November to March Note: located 1,750 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean - People Population: 153,215 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990) Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 71 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--New Caledonian(s); adjective--New Caledonian Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3.0% Religion: over 60% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant, 10% other Language: French; Melanesian-Polynesian dialects Labor force: 50,469; foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.) Organized labor: NA - Government Long-form name: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies Type: overseas territory of France Capital: Noumea Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France) Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note--a referendum on independence will be held in 1998, with a review of the issue in 1992 Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Executive branch: high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly Judicial branch: Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); Head of Government High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Bernard GRASSET (since 15 July 1988) Political parties: white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative; Melanesian proindependence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS); Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS); National Front (FN), extreme right; Caledonian Separatist Front, extreme left Suffrage: universal adult at age NA Elections: Territorial Congress--last held NA June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, others 5; French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) RPCR 1; French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(2 total) RPCR 2 Communists: number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese Member of: EIB (associate), WFTU, WMO Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France Flag: the flag of France is used - Economy Overview: New Caledonia has more than 40% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. GNP: $860 million, per capita $5,810; real growth rate 2.4% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1986) Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1983) Budget: revenues $110.5 million; expenditures $110.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1981) Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--nickel metal 87%, nickel ore; partners--France 56.3%, Japan Imports: $180 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities--foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment; partners--France 50.3%, Australia External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 14,440 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: nickel mining Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.6 billion Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc Fiscal year: calendar year - Communications Highways: 5,448 km total; 558 km paved, 2,251 km improved earth, 2,639 km unimproved earth Ports: Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 29 total, 27 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 32,578 telephones (1987); stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station - Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of France