New Caledonia

Print

Primary tabs

Sovereignty Comment
A sui generis overseas collectivity of France
Population Full

285,000 (2020 UNDESA)

General Remarks
The collectivity consists of the large island of New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands (Îles Loyauté), and some smaller islands; the Loyalty Islands include Lifou, Maré, Ouvéa, Tiga, and some nearby islets
Principal Languages
French
Literacy Rate
98% (2014 World Bank)
General References
Geraghty 1988, Schooling 1990, Tryon 1995, Wurm 2000, Wurm 2007, Wurm and Hattori 1981
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for New Caledonia is 39. Of these, 38 are living and 1 is extinct. Of the living languages, 34 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 2 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 26 are in trouble, and 7 are dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.