MigrantoImmigrants in New Caledonia
71.8K foreigners live in New Caledonia — 25% of the country's population
Immigrants in New Caledonia by country
The 3 largest groups make up 91% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| France | 48935 |
| Wallis and Futuna | 12450 |
| Vanuatu | 4021 |
| Indonesia | 1043 |
| Tunisia | 696 |
| Laos | 656 |
| Algeria | 652 |
| Vietnam | 647 |
| Cambodia | 613 |
| Morocco | 610 |
| French Polynesia | 591 |
| Italy | 291 |
| Australia | 285 |
| New Zealand | 122 |
| Spain | 118 |
| China | 95 |
By region of origin
69% of immigrants come from Europe
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Key facts
Immigrants in New Caledonia in numbers
97% of all emigrants from Wallis and Futuna live in New Caledonia
No other country has more people born in Wallis and Futuna.
Immigration drives population growth
31% of the population growth of New Caledonia since 1990 came from immigrants.
1 in 4 residents of New Caledonia was born abroad
71.8K of 292.6K residents were born abroad — 24.5% of the population.
More immigrants come from a single country than in 1990
The largest group's share rose from 55% to 68%, and today that group is people born in France.
The share of immigrants from Europe has grown since 1990
55.6% of immigrants came from Europe in 1990, compared with 68.7% today.
Immigrant population in New Caledonia over time
Foreigners living in New Caledonia, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 35367 |
| 1995 | 40990 |
| 2000 | 46612 |
| 2005 | 51014 |
| 2010 | 55415 |
| 2015 | 64468 |
| 2020 | 68458 |
| 2024 | 71825 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in New Caledonia, by year
| Year | French | Wallis and Futuna | Ni-Vanuatu | Indonesians | Tunisians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19351 | 5558 | 3153 | 819 | 546 |
| 1995 | 22427 | 6446 | 3654 | 949 | 633 |
| 2000 | 25504 | 7325 | 4156 | 1079 | 720 |
| 2005 | 30810 | 7373 | 4427 | 1150 | 767 |
| 2010 | 36117 | 7413 | 4698 | 1221 | 814 |
| 2015 | 43901 | 11177 | 3611 | 938 | 625 |
| 2020 | 46642 | 11867 | 3833 | 994 | 663 |
| 2024 | 48935 | 12450 | 4021 | 1043 | 696 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in New Caledonia
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in New Caledonia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in New Caledonia?
Around 71.8K immigrants live in New Caledonia — the world's #145 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of New Caledonia are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 25% of the population of New Caledonia — that's 71.8K out of a total population of 292.6K.
Where do most immigrants in New Caledonia come from?
Most immigrants in New Caledonia come from France, Wallis and Futuna and Vanuatu — these three countries account for about 91% of all immigrants.
How many French live in New Caledonia?
Around 48.9K French live in New Caledonia — about 68% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in New Caledonia growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in New Caledonia has grown from 64.5K to 71.8K, about 11%.
Where does the data on immigrants in New Caledonia come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in New Caledonia. Their children born in New Caledonia are not included.
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Living in New Caledonia
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