Population of New Caledonia
As of April 2025, the population of New Caledonia is 298.1 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 3 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.98%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 30.8 years in 2015 to 34.6 years in 2025. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 81.6 years and population density is 16.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of New Caledonia peaked in 1972, reaching around 4.29% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.96% in 2025. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 5.41 thousand in 1974 to nearly 2.87 thousand in 2025.
Life Expectancy
In New Caledonia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 76.7 years in 2005 to 81.6 years in 2025, representing an increase of almost 5 years over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in New Caledonia
The cities of New Caledonia are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 160.1 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Nouméa, South Province, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 93.1 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Mont-Dore, South Province with 24.7 thousand and Dumbéa, South Province with 19.3 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in New Caledonia:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nouméa, South Province | 93,060 |
| 2 | Mont-Dore, South Province | 24,680 |
| 3 | Dumbéa, South Province | 19,346 |
| 4 | Païta, South Province | 12,617 |
| 5 | Wé, Loyalty Islands | 10,375 |
| 6 | Tadine, Loyalty Islands | 7,492 |
| 7 | Poindimié, North Province | 4,885 |
| 8 | Bourail, South Province | 4,826 |
| 9 | Koné, North Province | 4,572 |
| 10 | Houaïlou, North Province | 4,562 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Fayaoué, Loyalty Islands | 4,411 |
| 12 | Canala, North Province | 3,538 |
| 13 | Koumac, North Province | 3,060 |
| 14 | La Foa, South Province | 2,947 |
| 15 | Thio, South Province | 2,748 |
| 16 | Ponérihouen, North Province | 2,739 |
| 17 | Hienghène, North Province | 2,668 |
| 18 | Poya, North Province | 2,617 |
| 19 | Pouébo, North Province | 2,391 |
| 20 | Touho, North Province | 2,283 |