Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Indonesia instead of New Caledonia, you would:

Health

live 7.6 years less

In New Caledonia, the average life expectancy is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Indonesia, that number is 71 years (69 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 71.0% less likely to be unemployed

In New Caledonia, 11.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Indonesia, that number is 3.2% as of 2025.

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make 82.7% less money

New Caledonia has a GDP per capita of $29,213 as of 2024, while in Indonesia, the GDP per capita is $5,060 as of 2025.

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Life

have 12.3% more children

In New Caledonia, there are approximately 14.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Indonesia, there are 15.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 11.2% less likely to have internet access

In New Caledonia, approximately 82.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Indonesia, about 72.8% do as of 2024.

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be 10.6% less likely to have access to drinking water

In New Caledonia, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Indonesia, 89% of people do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 24.3 times more coastline

New Caledonia has a total of 2,254 km of coastline. In Indonesia, that number is 54,716 km.

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Infrastructure

find 74.6% less home broadband

New Caledonia has 19.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Indonesia has 4.9 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 83.2% less CO2

New Caledonia emits 17.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Indonesia emits 2.9 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Compare further: New Caledonia vs. Indonesia

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Indonesia is 69.4% cheaper than New Caledonia overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
New Caledonia is about 103 times smaller than Indonesia.
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Moving from New Caledonia to Indonesia · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Indonesia: At a glance

Indonesia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 1,811,569 sq km. The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1988, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After rioting toppled Suharto in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance in Papua by the separatist Free Papua Movement.
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How big is Indonesia compared to New Caledonia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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