h paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications
--------------

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)

Defense
-------

Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands
Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

======================================================================

@New Caledonia
-------------

(overseas territory of France)

Map
---

Location: 21 30 S, 165 30 E -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Flag
----

Description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green,
with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist
side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Geography
---------

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

Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 19,060 sq km
land area: 18,575 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,254 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu

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

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
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:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 14%
forest and woodland: 51%
other: 35%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
international agreements: NA

People
------

Population: 187,784 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 28,941; female 27,929)
15-64 years: 64% (male 61,263; female 59,673)
65 years and over: 6% (male