National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party--RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%;
seats--(2 total) RPCR 2

_#_Communists: number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some
politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of
North Vietnamese

_#_Member of: FZ, SPC, WFTU, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,
New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France

_#_Flag: the flag of France is used

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known
nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of
depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export
earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for
cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.

_#_GNP: $973 million, per capita $5,790; real growth rate 2.4%
(1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1989)

_#_Unemployment rate: 16.0% (1989)

_#_Budget: revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

_#_Exports: $344 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--nickel metal 87%, nickel ore;

partners--France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%

_#_Imports: $389 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical
equipment;

partners--France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%

_#_External debt: $NA

_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%

_#_Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced,
12,790 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: nickel mining

_#_Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn,
wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef

_#_Illicit drugs: illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal
source of income for some families

_#_Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-88), $3.9 billion

_#_Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs);
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

_#_Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF)
per US$1--93.28 (January 1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
(1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the
rate of 18.18 to the French franc

_#_Fiscal year: calendar year

_*_Communications
_#_Highways: 6,340 km total; only about 10% pav