New Caledonians were 245 580 at the 2009 census. This is a small to medium size town population.
Over an area of 18 575 there are 13 people per sq.km for the whole of New Caledonia and 5 people per sq.km outside Noumea. Urban population growth in Noumea has been 2,11 % per annum since the census of 1996 while population growth outside Noumea was 0,36 %. Most of New Caledonia population growth occurs in Noumea.
67 % of the people live in the Noumea urban area (Noumea, Dumbea, Mont Dore have currently a total population of people.
With a total land area of 18 575 km2 there is consequently a density of 13 people per sq. km in New Caledonia and less than 5 people/sq. km outside Noumea.
| Comparison | New Caledonia |
France |
| Yearly natural growth | 1,53 %
|
0.57% |
| People of less than 20 years of age | 34 % |
26% |
| Inhabitants/km2 | 13 |
100 |
| people/km2 out of Noumea | 5 |
n.a. |
New Caledonian population has a high growth rate and is a young population
Communities
New Caledonians are an heterogeneous population. Communities have been often classified as "ethnic groups" but they are in fact socio-cultural groups with a noticeable and sometimes important, blood mixing. Mixed blood children with clear skin and blond hair living in tribal environment are associated with the Melanesian family lines and class themselves in the Melanesian"ethnic group" while other children, with dark skin and Melanesian physical features living within European families put themselves in the European ethnic group. Skin color is therefore of little significance in New Caledonia. This is the relation to a community which is relevant.
At the 1996 census the Melanesian community makes 40,35% of the total population. European community share is 29,20 %. Oceanians (Polynesian and Wallis-Futuna, Ni-Vanuatu) people reach 11,57 % and the Asian people (Indonesians, Vietnamese) 2,60 %.
There are also New Caledonian originating from India, Reunion Island, French Caribbean Islands and North Africa. Japanese were sent back to Japan during world war II but they left numerous mixed blood descendants.
European population is also split between the people who have been living in New Caledonia for several generations and French newcomers immigrating. Their children however are a new generation of New Caledonian people.
The 2004 census does not account for the communities numbers anymore. But braking the thermometer is not the way to cure a fever. The 2009 census gives again the communities numbers.
The socio-ethnic realty is much more complex than the simplistic black versus white opposition often presented in French media. Notion of "native people" is altered by blood mixing. However the separation inherited from the colonization times is a persisting problem despite improvement and a real common willingness to get closer to each other. Prejudice inherited from the past and the weight of habits have still to be overcome.
Population growth is strong since the sixties, it is now about five time that of 1956.
