New Caledonia
Capital
Nouméa
Population
~290,000
Currency
CFP Franc (XPF)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- French (official), 28 Melanesian-Polynesian languages
- Religion
- Christianity (majority), indigenous beliefs
- Climate
- Tropical; warm and humid with cooler dry season (May-November)
Culture & History
Known for: its nickel reserves (25% of world's known supply), stunning lagoons (UNESCO World Heritage), and unique biodiversity
Also famous for: being a French overseas territory with ongoing independence movements, Kanak culture, and as a South Pacific paradise
Food: Bougna (traditional Melanesian dish with chicken/fish and root vegetables cooked in banana leaves)
Brief History
Inhabited by Kanak people for 3,000 years; French colony since 1853; important WWII base; special collectivity status since 1998; independence referendums held in 2018-2021 (all rejecting independence)