The population of New Caledonia is expected to grow by 3,000 in 2025 and reach 311,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 1,133 people yearly. On average there are 4,429 births and 2,107 deaths in New Caledonia per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 0.75 percent per year. The population density of New Caledonia has changed from 7.7 in 1980 to 16.3 in 2023.
| Current population | 308,962 people at present (Sunday 27th of April 2025) | |
| Median Age | 36.3 years |
| Life expectancy | 78.7 years | |
| Population density | 16.6 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 308,000 | 3,000 (1.0%) | 1,133 | 36.3 | 2.02 | 17 | 230,000 (74.7%) |
| 2024 | 305,000 | 4,000 (1.3%) | 1,133 | 36.0 | 17 | 226,000 (74.3%) | |
| 2023 | 301,000 | 3,000 (1.0%) | 1,133 | 35.8 | 16 | 223,000 (73.9%) | |
| 2022 | 298,000 | 3,000 (1.0%) | 1,133 | 35.6 | 16 | 219,000 (73.5%) | |
| 2021 | 295,000 | 4,000 (1.4%) | 1,133 | 35.4 | 16 | 215,000 (73.1%) | |
| 2020 | 291,000 | 3,000 (1.0%) | 1,133 | 35.3 | 2.10 | 16 | 212,000 (72.7%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,133 | 35.1 | 2.12 | 16 | 208,000 (72.2%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,133 | 34.9 | 2.15 | 15 | 204,000 (71.7%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,133 | 34.6 | 2.17 | 15 | 200,000 (71.2%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,133 | 34.5 | 2.20 | 15 | 196,652 (70.7%) |
| 2015 | 273,000 | 5,000 (1.8%) | 1,133 | 34.4 | 2.22 | 15 | 191,673 (70.2%) |
| 2010 | 250,000 | 5,000 (2.0%) | 1,132 | 33.5 | 2.17 | 14 | 168,183 (67.3%) |
| 2005 | 231,000 | 3,000 (1.3%) | 847 | 31.0 | 2.20 | 13 | 147,759 (64.0%) |
| 2000 | 213,230 | 4,016 (1.9%) | 954 | 29.6 | 2.59 | 12 | 131,733 (61.8%) |
| 1995 | 193,816 | 4,334 (2.2%) | 1,214 | 28.5 | 2.59 | 11 | 116,464 (60.1%) |
| 1990 | 170,899 | 4,001 (2.3%) | 887 | 27.5 | 3.19 | 9 | 101,748 (59.5%) |
| 1985 | 154,450 | 2,800 (1.8%) | -98 | 26.6 | 3.00 | 8 | 90,869 (58.8%) |
| 1980 | 140,050 | 1,550 (1.1%) | -658 | 25.7 | 3.42 | 8 | 80,425 (57.4%) |
| 1975 | 132,500 | 1,500 (1.1%) | 6 | 25.3 | 3.68 | 7 | 73,094 (55.2%) |
| 1970 | 112,000 | 8,000 (7.1%) | 1,638 | 25.4 | 4.30 | 6 | 57,380 (51.2%) |
| 1965 | 90,500 | 2,400 (2.7%) | 281 | 25.6 | 5.60 | 5 | 40,405 (44.6%) |
| 1960 | 79,000 | 2,200 (2.7%) | 669 | 25.9 | 6.28 | 4 | 29,514 (37.4%) |
In 2024 the population of New Caledonia was 305,000 and the average age increased from 25.9 in 1960 to 36.0. Urban population has increased from 131,733 (61.8%) in 2000 to 230,000 (74.7%) in the current year. The population density of New Caledonia has changed from 7.7 in 1980 to 16.3 in 2023.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,133 | 35.3 | 2.10 | 16 | 212,000 (72.7%) |
| 2025 | 308,000 | 3,000 (1.0%) | 1,133 | 36.3 | 2.02 | 17 | 230,000 (74.7%) |
| 2030 | 324,000 | 3,000 (0.9%) | 1,133 | 37.2 | 1.96 | 18 | 247,000 (76.2%) |
| 2035 | 339,000 | 3,000 (0.9%) | 1,133 | 38.2 | 1.91 | 18 | 263,000 (77.5%) |
| 2040 | 353,000 | 2,000 (0.6%) | 1,133 | 39.2 | 1.87 | 19 | 277,000 (78.4%) |
| 2045 | 366,000 | 3,000 (0.8%) | 1,133 | 40.0 | 1.85 | 20 | 290,000 (79.4%) |
| 2050 | 377,000 | 2,000 (0.5%) | 1,133 | 40.8 | 1.83 | 21 | 303,000 (80.3%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 83.0 (81.3 years for male and 84.8 years for females). Population density will go up to 20.7 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of New Caledonia constitutes of 154,000 women and 154,000 men, which means there are 1,000 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 28.2% of population (86,979) is 19 or younger, 60.3% of population (185,662) is between age 20 and 64 and 11.7% of population (36,036) is over 65.