New Caledonia Is

Still Melanesian

New Caledonia’s population is officially estimated at 126,000 with native islanders outnumbering Euro peans by 15,000.

According to the Noumea Depart ment of Statistics, the population breakdown at the beginning of this year is believed to have been: Mela nesians 53,500, Europeans 53,250, Wallisians 9,081, Fr Polynesians 6,169, others 4,000.

The Caledonian population has doubled since 1946 (62,700 persons) and increased 25 per cent since the last census, in 1969 (100,579 per sons). By 1980, it is predicted the territory’s population should reach at least 147,750 and could be up to 155,000 persons, if plans for new nickel companies eventuate.

Meanwhile, the fastest increasing group is from the Wallis Islands, with an amazing birth rate of 71.4 per thousand. Next come the French Polynesians (44.2 per thousand), fol lowed by the Melanesians (38.8) and finally the Europeans (25.8 births per thousand). Half the Melanesian popu lation is under 20 years of age. The Tahitians and Wallisians are also predominately young people, attracted to Noumea by the work opportunities.

It is noted that the nickel boom of 1969-71 led to an inflow of 13,000 persons, but 2,000 left during the 1973 decline. Because of economic conditions, it is difficult to make reliable predictions about the future strength of the European population.

However, the French authorities have been striving in recent years to build up the European French content of the island, especially by attracting migrants with the nickel dreams ex pounded in 1969.

No further complete census is ex pected in New Caledonia before 1976, but a rapid count of inhabitants by municipality is planned for this year.