on
Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no
longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti
de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM
[Victor TUTUGORO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU,
SPC, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of
France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy New Caledonia

Economy - overview: New Caledonia has about 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 small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation,
and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,
the substantial financial support from France and tourism are keys
to the health of the economy. The situation in 1998 was clouded by
the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower prices
for nickel. Nickel prices jumped in 1999-2000, and large additions
were made to capacity. Strikes in the building industry in 2001, which
lasted four months, adversely affected many other sectors of the economy.
French Government interests in the New Caledonian nickel industry are
being transferred to local ownership.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.1 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.1% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 30% services: 65%
(1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 79,395 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70%
(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 19% (1996)

Budget: revenues: $861.3 million expenditures: $735.3 million, including
capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)

Industries: nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate: -0.6% (1996)

Electricity - production: 1.565 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 77.64% hydro: 22.36%
other: 0% (2000) nuc