Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 18,575 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 18,275 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 300 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 156

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
2,254 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
More Climate Details

Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:
agricultural land: 10.4% arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 9.8%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 45.9%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 43.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea

Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active

Environment - current issues:
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geography - note:
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls