View source for Administrative divisions of New Caledonia

{{Short description|Italy}}
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2016}}
{{Politics of New Caledonia}}

The French [[Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity|''sui generis'' collectivity]] of [[New Caledonia]] is [[administrative division|divided]] into three provinces, which in turn are divided into 33 communes. There is also a system of eight ''tribal areas'' for the indigenous [[Kanak people]], and three [[decentralization|decentralized]] ''subdivisions''.

==Provinces==
New Caledonia is divided into three [[province]]s. The [[North Province, New Caledonia|North]] and [[South Province, New Caledonia|South]] Provinces are located on the New Caledonian mainland, while the [[Loyalty Islands Province]] is a series of islands off the mainland.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Province name<br/> (name in French) !! Capital city !! Population<br/> (2019)
|-
|[[File:Iles-Loyauté drapeau.svg|22px]] [[Loyalty Islands Province]]<br/> (''Province des îles Loyauté'') || [[Lifou]] || 18,353
|-
|[[File:Drapeau Province Nord Nouvelle Calédonie.svg|22px]] [[North Province, New Caledonia|North Province]] (''Province Nord'') || [[Koné, New Caledonia|Koné]] || 49,910
|-
|[[File:Bandera Province Sud.svg|22px]] [[South Province, New Caledonia|South Province]] (''Province Sud'') || [[Nouméa]] || 203,144
|}

Each province has its own flag and emblem and has considerable powers, including all powers that are not explicitly the [[prerogative]] of either the territorial [[Congress of New Caledonia]] in [[Nouméa]] or parliament of the [[France|French Republic]] in [[Paris]]. The borders and powers of the provinces were outlined in 1988 as part of the [[Matignon Agreements (1988)|Matignon Accords]].

The [[Loyalty Islands Province]] has its seat at [[Wé]] in the commune of [[Lifou]], and the provincial seat of the North Province is at [[Koné, New Caledonia|Koné]] (although physically located closer to the town of [[Pouembout]]). The South Province has its provincial seat at [[Nouméa]], although [[La Foa]] also serves as the seat of some administrations (see ''subdivisions'' section below).

==Communes==
New Caledonia is subdivided into 33 [[Communes of France|communes]] (municipalities), which in most cases predate the provinces. One commune, [[Poya, New Caledonia|Poya]], was divided between the two mainland provinces as part of the [[Matignon Agreements (1988)|Matignon Accords]]. On the list below, communal seats are shown in parentheses if different from the commune name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
|{{Color box|#EC6B18|border=darkgray}} [[South Province, New Caledonia|South Province]]
|-
|{{Color box|#BEC629|border=darkgray}} [[North Province, New Caledonia|North Province]]
|-
|{{Color box|#FFFF80|border=darkgray}} [[Loyalty Islands Province]]
|-
|{{Color box|#FFFFFF|border=darkgray}} part of both provinces
|-
|'''provincial capital'''
|-
|'''''capital of New Caledonia'''''
|}
[[File:New Caledonia administrative1.png|thumb|272x272px|right|Administrative divisions of New Caledonia: {{colorbox|#BEC629}} North Province {{colorbox|#EC6B18}} South Province {{colorbox|#FFFF80}} Loyalty Islands Province. The numbers correspond to the list of communes to the left.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!No. on Map
!Commune
!Capital
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population (2019)
!Individual Map
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|1
|[[Thio, New Caledonia|Thio]]
|Thio
|997.6
|2,524
|[[File:Locator map of Thio 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|2
|[[Yaté]]
|Yaté
|1,338.4
|1,667
|[[File:Locator map of Yaté 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|3
|[[L'Île-des-Pins]]
|Vao
|152.3
|2,037
|[[File:Locator map of L’Île-des-Pins 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|4
|[[Le Mont-Dore (New Caledonia)|Le Mont-Dore]]
|Mont-Dore
|643.0
|27,620
|[[File:Locator map of Le Mont-Dore 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|5
|'''''[[Nouméa]]'''''
|'''''Nouméa'''''
|45.7
|94,285
|[[File:Locator map of Nouméa 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|6
|[[Dumbéa]]
|Dumbéa
|254.6
|35,873
|[[File:Locator map of Dumbéa 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|7
|[[Païta]]
|Païta
|699.7
|24,563
|[[File:Locator map of Païta 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|8
|[[Boulouparis]]
|Boulouparis
|865.6
|3,315
|[[File:Locator map of Bouloupari 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|9
|[[La Foa]]
|La Foa
|464.0
|3,552
|[[File:Locator map of La Foa 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|10
|[[Sarraméa]]
|Sarraméa
|106.4
|572
|[[File:Locator map of Sarraméa 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|11
|[[Farino]]
|Farino
|48.0
|712
|[[File:Locator map of Farino 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|12
|[[Moindou]]
|Moindou
|321.9
|681
|[[File:Locator map of Moindou 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#EC6B18"|13
|[[Bourail]]
|Bourail
|797.6
|5,531
|[[File:Locator map of Bourail 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#ffffff"|14
|[[Poya, New Caledonia|Poya]]
|Poya
|845.8
|2,802
|[[File:Locator map of Poya 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|15
|[[Pouembout]]
|Pouembout
|674.3
|2,752
|[[File:Locator map of Pouembout 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|16
|[[Koné, New Caledonia|'''Koné''']]
|'''Koné'''
|373.6
|8,144
|[[File:Locator map of Koné 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|17
|[[Voh]]
|Voh
|804.9
|2,856
|[[File:Locator map of Voh 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|18
|[[Kaala-Gomen]]
|Kaala-Gomen
|718.2
|1,803
|[[File:Locator map of Kaala-Gomen 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|19
|[[Koumac]]
|Koumac
|550.0
|3,981
|[[File:Locator map of Koumac 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|20
|[[Poum]]
|Poum
|469.4
|1,435
|[[File:Locator map of Poum 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|21
|[[Belep]]
|Waala
|69.5
|867
|[[File:Locator map of Belep 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|22
|[[Ouégoa]]
|Ouégoa
|656.8
|2,118
|[[File:Locator map of Ouégoa 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|23
|[[Pouébo]]
|Pouébo
|202.8
|2,144
|[[File:Locator map of Pouébo 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|24
|[[Hienghène]]
|Hienghène
|1,068.8
|2,454
|[[File:Locator map of Hienghène 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|25
|[[Touho]]
|Touho
|283.0
|2,380
|[[File:Locator map of Touho 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|26
|[[Poindimié]]
|Poindimié
|673.1
|5,006
|[[File:Locator map of Poindimié 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|27
|[[Ponérihouen]]
|Ponérihouen
|707.3
|2,420
|[[File:Locator map of Ponérihouen 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|28
|[[Houaïlou]]
|Houaïlou
|940.6
|3,955
|[[File:Locator map of Houaïlou 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|29
|[[Kouaoua]]
|Kouaoua
|383.0
|1,304
|[[File:Locator map of Kouaoua 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#BEC629"|30
|[[Canala]]
|Canala
|438.7
|3,701
|[[File:Locator map of Canala 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#FFFF80"|31
|[[Ouvéa]]
|Fayaoué
|132.1
|3,401
|[[File:Locator map of Ouvéa 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#FFFF80"|32
|'''[[Lifou]]'''
|'''[[Wé]]'''
|1,207.1
|9,195
|[[File:Locator map of Lifou 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
| style="background:#FFFF80"|33
|[[Maré Island|Maré]]
|Tadine
|641.7
|5,757
|[[File:Locator map of Maré 2018.png|frameless|80x80px]]
|}

==Other types of divisions==
[[File:Administrative divisions of New Caledonia.svg|thumb|left|The hierarchy of New Caledonia's administrative subdivisions, shown in a triangle.]]

===Tribal areas (''aires coutumières'')===
In addition, a parallel layer of administration exists for [[Kanak people|Kanak]] tribal affairs; these are called ''aires coutumières'' ("tribal areas") and are eight in number. Their jurisdiction does not encompass non-Kanaks living within these zones. The tribal areas more or less correspond to the indigenous language areas and/or areas of pre-French tribal alliances.

===''Subdivisions''===
There are also three subdivisions, simply known as ''subdivisions'' in [[French language|French]], with the same names and boundaries as the three provinces, except that the commune of Poya is entirely within the North Subdivision. Unlike the provinces, which are full political divisions with their own assemblies and executives, the subdivisions are merely [[Decentralization|decentralized]] divisions of the French central state, akin to the ''[[Arrondissements of France|arrondissements]]'' of [[Metropolitan France]], with a Deputy Commissioner of the Republic (''commissaire délégué de la République''), akin to a [[Subprefectures in France|subprefect]] of Metropolitan France, in residence in each subdivision's chief town.

The subdivision chief towns are the same as the provincial capitals except in the South Subdivision where the chief town is [[La Foa]], whereas the capital of the South Province is Nouméa. Thus, although the provincial assembly of the South Province sits in Nouméa, the South Subdivision's Deputy Commissioner of the Republic is in residence in La Foa. This was decided in order to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of Nouméa in New Caledonia.

==See also==
*[[Administrative divisions of France]]
*[[Lists of communes of France]]
*[[Politics of New Caledonia]]

{{Administrative divisions of New Caledonia}}

[[Category:Geography of New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Lists of administrative divisions|New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Oceania|New Caledonia]]
[[Category:New Caledonia-related lists|Administrative divisions]]