Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in New Caledonia instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

live 5.3 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In New Caledonia, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 13.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In French Polynesia, 19.7% live below the poverty line as of 2009. In New Caledonia, however, that number is 17.0% as of 2008.

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make 30.2% more money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in New Caledonia, the GDP per capita is $29,213 as of 2024.

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Life

have 31.2% more children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In New Caledonia, there are 14.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 13.6% more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In New Caledonia, on the other hand, 5.0 children do as of 2020.

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Basic Needs

be 12.8% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In New Caledonia, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

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Geography

see 10.7% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In New Caledonia, that number is 2,254 km.

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Safety

be 10.3 times more likely to be murdered

French Polynesia has a homicide rate of 0.3 per 100,000 people as of 2009. In New Caledonia, that number is 3.1 per 100,000 as of 2009.

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Infrastructure

find 45.5% less home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. New Caledonia has 19.4 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 4.9 times more CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. New Caledonia emits 17.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2024), The World Factbook (2008–2022), United Nations SDG Indicators (2009). How we calculate this

Compare further: French Polynesia vs. New Caledonia

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
New Caledonia is 3.9% more expensive than French Polynesia overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
French Polynesia is about 4.5 times smaller than New Caledonia.
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Moving from French Polynesia to New Caledonia · UN DESA 2020
563 people born in French Polynesia live in New Caledonia.
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New Caledonia: At a glance

New Caledonia is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 18,275 sq km. Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island became a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct a referendum between 2014 and 2018 to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.
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How big is New Caledonia compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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