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New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Calédonie) is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre (“Le Caillou,””The Stone”), the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands (in the Coral Sea), the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and a few remote islets. The capital of the territory is Nouméa. New Caledonia has a land area of 18,576 sq. km. (7,172 sq. mi.).

The archipelago is divided into three provinces: South Province (Province Sud), with a population of around 183,007 (2009) and its provincial capital at Nouméa; North Province (province Nord), with a population of around 45,137 (2009) and its provincial capital at Koné; and Loyalty Islands Province (Province des Îles Loyauté), with a population of around 17,436 (2009) and its provincial capital at Lifou. New Caledonia is further divided into 33 municipalities. Poya is divided between two provinces – the northern half of Poya (the main settlement and most of the population) is part of the North Province, while the southern half of Poya (with only 127 inhabitants in 2009) is part of the South Province.

Select an Island

South Province (Province Sud)

Bouloupari
Bourail
Dumbéa
Farino
La Foa
L’Île-des-Pins
Le Mont-Dore
Moindou
Nouméa (provincial capital)
Païta
Poya (south part)
Sarraméa
Thio
Yaté

North Province (Province Nord)

Belep
Canala
Hienghène
Houaïlou
Kaala-Gomen
Koné (provincial capital)
Kouaoua
Koumac
Ouégoa
Poindimié
Ponérihouen
Pouébo
Pouembout
Poum
Poya (north part)
Touho
Voh

Loyalty Islands Province (Province des îles Loyauté)

Lifou (provincial capital)
Maré
Ouvéa