Population of New Caledonia
As of July 2026, the population of New Caledonia is 297.9 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 2 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.87%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 31.1 years in 2016 to 34.8 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 79.2 years and population density is 16.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of New Caledonia peaked in 1970, reaching around 4.63% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.83% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 6.06 thousand in 1975 to nearly 2.47 thousand in 2026.
Life Expectancy
In New Caledonia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 75 years in 2006 to 79.2 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 4 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 | Vallée des Colons, South Province | 8,866 |
| 7 | Tadine, Loyalty Islands | 7,492 |
| 8 | Magenta, South Province | 7,169 |
| 9 | Rivière-Salée, South Province | 6,873 |
| 10 | Bourail, South Province | 5,531 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Poindimié, North Province | 5,006 |
| 12 | Koné, North Province | 4,572 |
| 13 | Houaïlou, North Province | 4,562 |
| 14 | Portes de Fer, South Province | 4,093 |
| 15 | Aérodrome, South Province | 3,951 |
| 16 | Septième Kilomètre, South Province | 3,944 |
| 17 | Anse-Vata, South Province | 3,729 |
| 18 | Val Plaisance, South Province | 3,631 |
| 19 | N'Géa, South Province | 3,624 |
| 20 | Canala, North Province | 3,538 |