New Caledonia at its true size
New Caledonia covers 18,576 km², number 155 of 235 by area. Home to 295,333 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 18,576 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 295,333 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 16 per km² |
| Capital | Noum'ea |
| Region | Melanesia, Oceania |
| Status | Territory of France |
| Coast | Has a coastline |
| Codes | NC · NCL · 540 |
Countries of a similar size
- Fiji1.02×New Caledonia and Fiji are almost exactly the same size.
- Kuwait1.04×New Caledonia is 4% larger than Kuwait.
- Eswatini1.07×New Caledonia is 7% larger than Eswatini.
- Slovenia0.92×New Caledonia is 8% smaller than Slovenia.
- Israel0.89×New Caledonia is 11% smaller than Israel.
- El Salvador0.88×New Caledonia is 12% smaller than El Salvador.
How many times does New Caledonia fit into…
- Russia: about 919 times
- Canada: about 538 times
- United States: about 529 times
Questions about New Caledonia
- How big is New Caledonia?
- New Caledonia covers 18,576 km², which makes it number 155 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 295,333 people live there (2025), 16 per km².
- Is New Caledonia bigger than Fiji?
- New Caledonia and Fiji are almost exactly the same size. New Caledonia: 18,576 km²; Fiji: 18,274 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort New Caledonia?
- New Caledonia lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Does New Caledonia have land borders?
- No. New Caledonia has no land neighbours; every border is a coastline.