New Caledonia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 108 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 220 times as many people as New Caledonia (65.49 million vs 298,027). South Africa's economy is 49.1 times the size of New Caledonia's ($424.75 billion vs $8.65 billion GDP).
Comparing New Caledonia and South Africa: New Caledonia leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (996,200) against South Africa (50.02); New Caledonia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (198,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); New Caledonia leads on Televisions (52,000) against South Africa (6). Across 108 compared metrics, New Caledonia wins on 47 and South Africa wins on 46.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 43 metrics compared
- Environment: 10 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 7 metrics compared
- People and Society: 26 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 19.37 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 82.01 %★ | 56.17 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 82.01 %★ | 56.17 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 82% (2017 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 19.37 Mbps★ | 3.12 Mbps | |
| Radios | 107,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 52,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
43 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 218,632★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 10,717.99 % | 87,567.97 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 23.27 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 4.89★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,855.71 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 59.57 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 59.6 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 8 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.64 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 146★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 1,840.3 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 18,280 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,254 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 100 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Divisions | 3 | 9★ | |
| Independence | none (overseas collectivity of France) note: in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 186 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
7 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 96.87 %★ | 68.01 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 22★ | 7.2 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 78.92 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 78.92 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
People and Society
26 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 47.83 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.03 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 34.84 years★ | 29 years | |
| Population Change | 3,328.1 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 16.29 per sq. km★ | 53.74 per sq. km | |
| Total population | 298,026.5 persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 13.6 % | 17.21 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | NA | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 14.03 per 1,000 people | 18.48 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 6 %★ | 6.56 % | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | NA | 6.6 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 73,318.2 persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 19.37 %★ | 3.12 % | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.64 male/female★ | 103.52 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 130,800★ | 27.77 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 198,000 people★ | 10.32 people | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 16.46 % | 9.65 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 65.94 % | 79.63 %★ | |
| Physician Density | 0.24 people/sq km | 0.79 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 1.11 %★ | 1.06 % | |
| Population living in slums | 0.25 % | 23.64 %★ | |
| Total deaths | 1,813.7 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.93 per woman | 2.17 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | 1,100.4 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 9.8 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 1.24 % | 1.34 %★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airports | 21 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 1 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 2 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 248.00M USD | 8.81B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About New Caledonia vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, New Caledonia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 220 times as many people as New Caledonia (65.49 million vs 298,027). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, New Caledonia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 49.1 times the size of New Caledonia's ($424.75 billion vs $8.65 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, New Caledonia or South Africa?▾
New Caledonia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $29,018 in New Caledonia vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).