Total population (thousands) in New Caledonia
New Caledonia: Total population (thousands) was 294.01 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
294.01 thousands
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
183rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
294.01 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
106.81 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in New Caledonia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in New Caledonia stood at 294.01 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in New Caledonia peaked at 294.01 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 106.81 thousands, in 1970.
New Caledonia ranks 183rd of 233 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in New Caledonia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 106.81 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 111.87 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 117.16 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 122.7 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 128.47 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 134.43 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 140.49 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 143.69 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 145.51 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 147.28 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 148.99 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 150.65 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 152.24 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 153.77 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 156.24 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 158.93 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 161.54 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 164.25 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 167.05 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 169.96 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 174.1 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 178.81 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 183.66 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 188.48 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 193.23 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 198 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 202.76 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 207.31 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 211.81 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 216.28 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 220.77 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 225.42 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 229.99 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 234.48 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 238.88 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 242.83 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 245.93 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 249.16 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 252.29 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 255.36 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 259.14 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 264.02 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 269.06 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 274.21 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 279.44 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 283.01 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 283.32 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 283.52 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 283.57 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 283.51 thousands | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 283.7 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 284.65 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 285.78 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 288.47 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 291.27 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 294.01 thousands | +0.9% |
New Caledonia compared with similar countries
- New Caledonia's 294.01 thousands is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 10% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Caledonia's 294.01 thousands is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 21% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 129.84 thousands | 106.81 thousands | 147.28 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 158.36 thousands | 148.99 thousands | 169.96 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 195.44 thousands | 174.1 thousands | 216.28 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 239.51 thousands | 220.77 thousands | 255.36 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 276.28 thousands | 259.14 thousands | 283.57 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 287.98 thousands | 283.7 thousands | 294.01 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Caledonia
- 180 Mayotte 331.76 thousands compare
- 181 Vanuatu 331.47 thousands compare
- 182 French Guiana 311.08 thousands compare
- 184 Barbados 282.56 thousands compare
- 185 French Polynesia 282.15 thousands compare
- 186 Sao Tome and Principe 237.89 thousands compare
More population data for New Caledonia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1079 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4774 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 18.45 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15,426 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 1.25 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in New Caledonia?
- Total population in New Caledonia was 294.01 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in New Caledonia?
- The highest recorded value was 294.01 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in New Caledonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 106.81 thousands in 1970.
- How does New Caledonia rank for total population?
- New Caledonia ranks 183rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in New Caledonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Caledonia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release