View source for Nouméa

{{short description|Human settlement in New Caledonia}}
{{Redirect|Noumea|the genus of sea slugs|Noumea (gastropod)|the language|Ndrumbea language}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Nouméa
|commune status         = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
| image                 = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = View over Noumea.jpg
| photo2a                 = NC-noumea-kathedr-03.jpg
| photo2b                 = Nouméa Phare Amédée.JPG
| photo3a                 = Musee de la Ville de Noumea (32058171408).jpg
| photo3b                 = Fontaine celeste noumea.jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 280
| foot_montage            = Top: View of Nouméa; Middle: [[Nouméa Cathedral]], [[Amédée lighthouse]]; Bottom: Nouméa City Museum, Céleste fountain
}}
|image coat of arms     = Blason ville Nouméa (Nouvelle-Calédonie).svg
|map size               = 270px
|adjustable map         = Locator map of Nouméa 2018.png
|map caption            = Location of the commune (in red)<br>within New Caledonia
|province               = [[South Province, New Caledonia|South Province]]<br>(provincial seat)
|INSEE                  = 98818
|postal code            = 98800
|mayor                  = [[Sonia Lagarde]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|coordinates            = {{coord|-22.2758|166.4580|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 20
|elevation min m        = 0
|elevation max m        = 167
|area km2               = 45.7
|urban area km2         = 1,643
|area footnotes         = <ref name=area>{{cite web|url=http://www.isee.nc/tec/atlas/telechargements/1-territoire-environnement.pdf|title=Tableaux de l'économie calédonienne, Chapitre 1 : TERRITOIRE-ENVIRONNEMENT|publisher=ISEE|year=2012|access-date=2013-10-14|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113161955/http://www.isee.nc/tec/atlas/telechargements/1-territoire-environnement.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2013}}</ref>
|population             = 94285
|urban pop              = 182341
|population date        = 2019 census
|population footnotes   = <ref name=pop2019>[https://www.isee.nc/component/phocadownload/category/193-recensement?download=1979:rp-2019-population-logement-menages-communes Population, ménages et logement par commune, en 2019], Institut de la statistique et des études économiques Nouvelle-Calédonie</ref>
|ethnic                 = [[European ethnic groups|European]]s 39.15%<br>[[Kanak people|Kanak]]s 26.62%<br>Wallisians and Futunans 6.1%<br>[[Multiracial|Mixed]] 10.22%<br>Other 17.9%
|ethnic date            = 2019 census
}}

[[File:Flag of the city of Nouméa, New Caledonia.png|thumb|upright|Nouméa city flag, 2011]]
[[File:Map of New Caledonia and Noumea (cropped).jpg|thumb|377x377px|Small scale map of the city]]
'''Nouméa''' ({{IPA|en|nuːˈmeɪ.ə}} {{respell|noo-MAY-uh}}, {{respell|nyoo-}}, {{respell|-MEE-}}; {{IPA|fr|numea|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jules78120-Nouméa.wav}}) is the capital and largest city of the French [[Sui generis collectivity|special collectivity]] of [[New Caledonia]] and is also the largest [[Francophone]] city in [[Oceania]]. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, [[Grande Terre (New Caledonia)|Grande Terre]], and is home to the majority of the island's European, [[Polynesia]]n ([[Wallis and Futuna|Wallisians]], [[Wallis and Futuna|Futunians]], [[Tahiti]]ans), [[Indonesia]]n, and [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]] populations, as well as many [[Melanesians]], [[Ni-Vanuatu]] and indigenous [[Kanak people|Kanak]]s who work in one of the [[Oceania|South Pacific]]'s most industrialised cities. The city lies on a protected deepwater harbour that serves as the chief port for New Caledonia.

At the September 2019 census, there were 182,341 inhabitants in the metropolitan area of Greater Nouméa ({{Langx|fr|agglomération du Grand Nouméa}}), 94,285 of whom lived in the city ([[Communes of France|commune]]) of Nouméa proper.<ref name=pop2019/> 67.2% of the population of New Caledonia lives in Greater Nouméa, which covers the communes of Nouméa, [[Le Mont-Dore (New Caledonia)|Le Mont-Dore]], [[Dumbéa]] and [[Païta]].

==History==
[[File:Noumea Map 1930.jpg|thumb|left|Nouméa 1930.]]
The first European to establish a settlement in the vicinity was British trader [[James Paddon]] in 1851. Eager to assert control of the island, the French established a settlement nearby three years later in 1854, moving from [[Balade (New Caledonia)|Balade]] in the north of the island{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}. This settlement was initially called Port-de-France and was renamed Nouméa in 1866. The area served first as a [[penal colony]], later as a centre for the exportation of the nickel and gold that was mined nearby.

From 1904 to 1940, Nouméa was linked to [[Dumbéa]] and [[Païta]] by the [[Nouméa-Païta railway]], the only railway line that ever existed in New Caledonia.

During World War II, the [[United States Navy]] built [[Naval Base Noumea]] and Nouméa served as the headquarters of the United States military in the South Pacific. The five-sided U.S. military headquarters complex was adopted after the war as the base for a new regional intergovernmental development organisation: the South Pacific Commission, later known as the [[Secretariat of the Pacific Community]], and later still as the Pacific Community.

The city maintains much of New Caledonia's unique mix of French and old Melanesian culture. Even today the United States wartime military influence lingers, both with the warmth that many New Caledonian people feel towards the United States after experiencing the relative friendliness of American soldiers{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} and also with the names of several of the quarters in Nouméa. Districts such as "Receiving" and "Robinson", or even "Motor Pool", strike the [[English-speaking world|anglophone]] ear strangely, until the historical context becomes clear.

In May 2024, [[2024 New Caledonia unrest|protests and riots]] emerged in Nouméa and New Caledonia at large, due to concerns over an electoral bill that was seen as a threat towards potential independence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-30/why-is-new-caledonia-still-a-french-territory/104619708 |date=30 November 2024 |title=Why is France holding onto New Caledonia — a Pacific territory on the other side of the world? |website=abc.net.au}}</ref> The unrest caused damage to the city, along with a major decline in tourism and an exodus of mainly French nationals from the territory and city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-30/new-caledonia-tourism-civil-unrest-travel-noumea/104026412 |date=30 June 2024 |title=Riot-stricken New Caledonia is empty of travellers. Businesses hope it can regain its place as a Pacific tourism jewel |website=abc.net.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/new-caledonia-departures-french-nationals-civil-unrest/105097068 |date=28 March 2025 |title=Thousands leave New Caledonia in civil unrest, as long recovery awaits those staying |website=abc.net.au}}</ref>

==Geography==
The city is situated on an irregular, hilly peninsula near the southeast end of New Caledonia, which is in the south-west Pacific Ocean.

Neighbourhoods of Nouméa include:<ref>{{Cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722112059/http://www.ville-noumea.nc/vivre/quartiers.asp
| archive-date=22 July 2011
| url-status = dead
| website= Mairie de Nouméa Hôtel de ville
|title=Les quartiers
|url=https://www.noumea.nc/|access-date=2023-03-14|language=fr}}</ref>
*Rivière-Salée
*6e km, 7e km, Normandie, and Tina
*Ducos peninsula:
**Ducos, Ducos industriel, Kaméré, Koumourou, Logicoop, Numbo, Tindu
*4e Km, Aérodrome, Haut Magenta, Magenta, Ouémo, and Portes de fer
*Faubourg Blanchot and Vallée des Colons
*Doniambo, Montagne coupée, Montravel, and Vallée du tir
*Artillerie Nord, Centre Ville, Nouville, Quartier Latin, Vallée du Génie
*Anse Vata ([[Drubea language|Drubea]]: ''Ouata''), Artillerie Sud, Baie des Citrons, Motor Pool, N'géa, Orphelinat, Receiving, Trianon, and Val Plaisance

===Climate===
Nouméa features a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: [[tropical savanna climate|Aw]]) with hot summers and warm winters. Temperatures are warmer in the months of January, February and March with average highs hovering around 30 degrees Celsius and cooler during the months of July and August where average high temperatures are around 23 degrees Celsius. The capital's [[dry season]] months are September and October. The rest of the year is noticeably wetter. Nouméa on average receives roughly {{convert|1100|mm|0|abbr=on}} of precipitation annually.

{{Weather box
|location = Nouméa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present)
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|Jan record high C = 36.8
|Feb record high C = 36.4
|Mar record high C = 36.4
|Apr record high C = 36.1
|May record high C = 32.7
|Jun record high C = 30.7
|Jul record high C = 34.0
|Aug record high C = 31.7
|Sep record high C = 33.0
|Oct record high C = 32.3
|Nov record high C = 34.9
|Dec record high C = 35.7
|Jan record low C = 18.6
|Feb record low C = 19.0
|Mar record low C = 18.8
|Apr record low C = 16.7
|May record low C = 15.7
|Jun record low C = 13.6
|Jul record low C = 13.5
|Aug record low C = 13.2
|Sep record low C = 13.3
|Oct record low C = 14.2
|Nov record low C = 15.2
|Dec record low C = 17.8
|Jan high C = 29.5
|Feb high C = 29.9
|Mar high C = 29.0
|Apr high C = 27.4
|May high C = 25.6
|Jun high C = 24.2
|Jul high C = 23.4
|Aug high C = 23.4
|Sep high C = 24.7
|Oct high C = 26.2
|Nov high C = 27.6
|Dec high C = 29.1
|year high C = 26.7
|Jan mean C = 26.5
|Feb mean C = 26.9
|Mar mean C = 26.2
|Apr mean C = 24.7
|May mean C = 22.9
|Jun mean C = 21.6
|Jul mean C = 20.6
|Aug mean C = 20.5
|Sep mean C = 21.5
|Oct mean C = 22.9
|Nov mean C = 24.3
|Dec mean C = 25.8
|year mean C = 23.7
|Jan low C = 23.4
|Feb low C = 24.0
|Mar low C = 23.5
|Apr low C = 22.0
|May low C = 20.2
|Jun low C = 18.9
|Jul low C = 17.7
|Aug low C = 17.5
|Sep low C = 18.3
|Oct low C = 19.6
|Nov low C = 21.0
|Dec low C = 22.5
|year low C = 20.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 107.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 128.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 161.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 118.3
|May precipitation mm = 89.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 77.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 69.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 67.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 39.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 36.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 44.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 64.0
|year precipitation mm = 1004.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 10.1
|Feb precipitation days = 10.8
|Mar precipitation days = 11.9
|Apr precipitation days = 11.7
|May precipitation days = 11.3
|Jun precipitation days = 9.3
|Jul precipitation days = 9.4
|Aug precipitation days = 8.4
|Sep precipitation days = 5.8
|Oct precipitation days = 4.8
|Nov precipitation days = 6.0
|Dec precipitation days = 6.7
|year precipitation days = 106.3
|Jan sun = 238.5
|Feb sun = 205.6
|Mar sun = 196.1
|Apr sun = 193.1
|May sun = 173.2
|Jun sun = 154.6
|Jul sun = 182.4
|Aug sun = 203.5
|Sep sun = 230.8
|Oct sun = 258.6
|Nov sun = 250.6
|Dec sun = 261.8
|year sun = 2548.7
|source 1 = [[Météo-France]],<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_98818001.pdf
| title=Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = August 26, 2022}}</ref> Meteociel (sunshine 1981–2010)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=98818001&normes=2010&normes2=0
| title=Noumea (988) / Normales / Moyennes 1981–2010
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = August 26, 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[:fr:Service de la météorologie de la Nouvelle-Calédonie|Service de la météorologie de la Nouvelle-Calédonie]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_98818001.pdf
| title=climate of Noumea 1981–2010
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = April 7, 2022}}</ref>|date=August 2010}}
{{Weather box
|location= Nouméa <small>([[Nouméa Magenta Airport|Magenta]], 1991–2020 averages, extremes 1964–present)</small>
|metric first= Y
|single line= Y
|Jan record high C = 36.8
|Feb record high C = 35.4
|Mar record high C = 35.7
|Apr record high C = 34.1
|May record high C = 32.4
|Jun record high C = 30.8
|Jul record high C = 32.0
|Aug record high C = 31.7
|Sep record high C = 32.6
|Oct record high C = 31.9
|Nov record high C = 35.7
|Dec record high C = 35.5
|year record high C = 36.8
|Jan high C = 29.1
|Feb high C = 29.6
|Mar high C = 28.8
|Apr high C = 27.4
|May high C = 25.7
|Jun high C = 24.3
|Jul high C = 23.4
|Aug high C = 23.3
|Sep high C = 24.5
|Oct high C = 25.8
|Nov high C = 27.1
|Dec high C = 28.5
|year high C = 26.5
|Jan mean C = 26.4
|Feb mean C = 26.9
|Mar mean C = 26.2
|Apr mean C = 24.7
|May mean C = 22.7
|Jun mean C = 21.3
|Jul mean C = 20.2
|Aug mean C = 20.1
|Sep mean C = 21.1
|Oct mean C = 22.6
|Nov mean C = 24.0
|Dec mean C = 25.6
|year mean C = 23.5
|Jan low C = 23.7
|Feb low C = 24.2
|Mar low C = 23.7
|Apr low C = 22.1
|May low C = 19.8
|Jun low C = 18.4
|Jul low C = 17.0
|Aug low C = 16.8
|Sep low C = 17.8
|Oct low C = 19.5
|Nov low C = 21.0
|Dec low C = 22.7
|year low C = 20.6
|Jan record low C = 17.5
|Feb record low C = 17.9
|Mar record low C = 14.5
|Apr record low C = 14.6
|May record low C = 12.0
|Jun record low C = 10.8
|Jul record low C = 8.9
|Aug record low C = 9.9
|Sep record low C = 9.9
|Oct record low C = 10.8
|Nov record low C = 13.2
|Dec record low C = 16.0
|year record low C = 8.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 107.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 134.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 167.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 124.2
|May precipitation mm = 86.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 82.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 71.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 70.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 38.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 39.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 44.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 68.4
|year precipitation mm = 1034.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 9.7
|Feb precipitation days = 10.8
|Mar precipitation days = 12.2
|Apr precipitation days = 12.0
|May precipitation days = 11.0
|Jun precipitation days = 9.5
|Jul precipitation days = 9.2
|Aug precipitation days = 8.5
|Sep precipitation days = 5.5
|Oct precipitation days = 5.1
|Nov precipitation days = 6.1
|Dec precipitation days = 6.9
|year precipitation days = 106.4
|source 1 = [[Météo France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_98818002.pdf
| title=climate of Magenta 1991–2020
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = August 26, 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Nouméa <small>([[Amédée Lighthouse|Amédée]], 1991–2020 averages, extremes 1989–present)</small>
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|Jan record high C = 36.7
|Feb record high C = 36.4
|Mar record high C = 35.4
|Apr record high C = 32.7
|May record high C = 31.2
|Jun record high C = 30.2
|Jul record high C = 31.0
|Aug record high C = 29.2
|Sep record high C = 30.4
|Oct record high C = 30.7
|Nov record high C = 33.1
|Dec record high C = 34.3
|Jan record low C = 20.3
|Feb record low C = 20.2
|Mar record low C = 20.3
|Apr record low C = 18.4
|May record low C = 16.8
|Jun record low C = 16.0
|Jul record low C = 15.2
|Aug record low C = 14.3
|Sep record low C = 14.8
|Oct record low C = 16.5
|Nov record low C = 16.9
|Dec record low C = 19.4
|Jan high C = 29.2
|Feb high C = 29.8
|Mar high C = 29.0
|Apr high C = 27.6
|May high C = 26.0
|Jun high C = 24.6
|Jul high C = 23.8
|Aug high C = 23.9
|Sep high C = 25.0
|Oct high C = 26.1
|Nov high C = 27.4
|Dec high C = 28.7
|year high C = 26.8
|Jan mean C = 26.7
|Feb mean C = 27.3
|Mar mean C = 26.7
|Apr mean C = 25.4
|May mean C = 23.9
|Jun mean C = 22.5
|Jul mean C = 21.6
|Aug mean C = 21.4
|Sep mean C = 22.3
|Oct mean C = 23.5
|Nov mean C = 24.7
|Dec mean C = 26.0
|year mean C = 24.3
|Jan low C = 24.2
|Feb low C = 24.8
|Mar low C = 24.4
|Apr low C = 23.2
|May low C = 21.7
|Jun low C = 20.4
|Jul low C = 19.3
|Aug low C = 19.0
|Sep low C = 19.7
|Oct low C = 20.8
|Nov low C = 22.0
|Dec low C = 23.4
|year low C = 21.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 92.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 81.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 107.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 83.0
|May precipitation mm = 74.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 65.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 61.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 56.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 36.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 27.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 30.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 49.3
|year precipitation mm = 765.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 7.7
|Feb precipitation days = 9.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.3
|May precipitation days = 9.8
|Jun precipitation days = 8.8
|Jul precipitation days = 8.0
|Aug precipitation days = 7.0
|Sep precipitation days = 4.5
|Oct precipitation days = 4.7
|Nov precipitation days = 4.6
|Dec precipitation days = 5.4
|year precipitation days = 88.8
|source 1 = [[Météo-France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_98818003.pdf
| title=Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = August 27, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Noumea Market.jpg|thumb|250px|A woman at a market in Nouméa, 2006]]
The Greater Nouméa urban area ({{langx|fr|agglomération du Grand Nouméa|links=no}}) had a total population of 182,341 inhabitants at the September 2019 census, 94,285 of whom lived in the [[commune in France|commune]] of Nouméa proper.<ref name="pop2019"/>

The Greater Nouméa urban area is made up of four communes:
*Nouméa (94,285 inh.)
*[[Dumbéa]] (35,873 inh.), to the north-west of Nouméa
*[[Le Mont-Dore (New Caledonia)|Le Mont-Dore]] (27,620 inh.), to the north-east of Nouméa
*[[Païta]] (24,563 inh.), a suburb to the west of Dumbéa and the site of [[La Tontouta International Airport]]

===Historical population===

{|
|
{{Historical populations
| align = left
| title = Historical population Nouméa (commune)
| percentages = pagr
| source = ISEE<ref name=recens>{{cite web|url=https://www.isee.nc/population/recensement/structure-de-la-population-et-evolutions |title=Structure de la population et évolutions: La population aux différents recensements |author=ISEE |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1956.931693989 |22235
|1963.334246575 |34990
|1969.191780822 |41853
|1976.31147541 |56078
|1983.287671233 |60112
|1989.257534247 |65110
|1996.292349727 |76293
|2009.569863014 |97579
|2014.652055 |99926
|2019.693151 |94285
}}
|
{{Historical populations
| align = centre
| title = Historical population Greater Nouméa (urban area)
| percentages = pagr
| source = SPLAF<ref name=splaf>{{cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/ncurb.html |title=Agglomérations et villes de la Nouvelle-Calédonie |author=SPLAF (Site sur la Population et les Limites Administratives de la France) |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref> and ISEE<ref name=recens/>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1956.931693989 |25204
|1963.334246575 |39996
|1969.191780822 |50488
|1976.31147541 |74335
|1983.287671233 |85098
|1989.257534247 |97581
|1996.292349727 |118823
|2009.569863014 |163723
|2014.652055 |179509
|2019.693151 |182341
}}
|}

Average population growth of the Greater Nouméa urban area:
*1956–1963: +2,310 people per year (+7.5% per year)
*1963–1969: +1,791 people per year (+4.1% per year)
*1969–1976: +3,349 people per year (+5.6% per year)
*1976–1983: +1,543 people per year (+2.0% per year)
*1983–1989: +2,091 people per year (+2.3% per year)
*1989–1996: +3,020 people per year (+2.8% per year)
*1996–2009: +3,382 people per year (+2.4% per year)
*2009–2014: +3,106 people per year (+1.8% per year)
*2014–2019: +562 people per year (+0.3% per year)

===Migrations===
The places of birth of the 179,509 residents in the Greater Nouméa urban area at the 2014 census were the following:<ref name=censusdetail>{{cite web|url=http://www.isee.nc/component/phocadownload/category/193-recensement?download=1442:rp-2014-population-logement-menages-communes|title=Recensement de la population de 2014 – Population, ménages et logements par communes de Nouvelle Calédonie|publisher=ISEE|access-date=2018-01-02|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025024348/http://www.isee.nc/component/phocadownload/category/193-recensement?download=1442:rp-2014-population-logement-menages-communes|archive-date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
*66.7% were born in New Caledonia
*21.2% in [[Metropolitan France]] or its [[overseas department]]s and territories (outside of the Pacific)
*6.3% in foreign countries (notably Indonesia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Algeria)
*5.8% in France's other Pacific territories, primarily [[Wallis and Futuna]] and a lesser degree [[French Polynesia]]

===Ethnic communities===
The self-reported ethnic communities of the 182,341 residents in the Greater Nouméa urban area at the 2019 census were as follows:<ref name=censusdetail />
*30.65% [[White people|Europeans]]
*26.36% [[Kanak people|Kanaks]] (original [[Melanesians|Melanesian]] inhabitants of New Caledonia)
*11.66% [[Wallis and Futuna|Wallisians and Futunians]]
*12.59% [[multiracial|mixed ethnicity]]
*18.75% other communities (this group includes in particular the White people of New Caledonia who refused to self-identify as "Europeans")

===Languages===
At the 2009 census, 98.7% of the population in the Greater Nouméa urban area whose age was 15 years and older reported that they could speak [[French language|French]]. 97.1% reported that they could also read and write it. Only 1.3% of the population whose age was 15 years and older had no knowledge of French.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isee.nc/population/telecharxls/commune-prov-rp-2009.xls|title=P19 Population de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la connaissance du français, par commune et province de résidence|publisher=ISEE|access-date=2013-10-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017182011/http://www.isee.nc/population/telecharxls/commune-prov-rp-2009.xls|archive-date=17 October 2013}}</ref>

At the same census, 20.8% of the population of the urban area 15 years and older reported that they could speak at least one of the [[New Caledonian languages|Kanak languages]]. 4.3% reported that they could understand a Kanak language but not speak it. 74.9% of the population whose age was 15 years and older had no knowledge of any Kanak language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isee.nc/population/telecharxls/commune-prov-rp-2009.xls|title=P21 Population de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la connaissance d'une langue kanak, par commune et province de résidence|publisher=ISEE|access-date=2013-10-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017182011/http://www.isee.nc/population/telecharxls/commune-prov-rp-2009.xls|archive-date=17 October 2013}}</ref>

Due to the tourism industry (with the bulk of tourists coming from [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]), [[English language|English]] is widely spoken as a second or third language in Nouméa. [[Japanese language|Japanese]] is also known (albeit to a much lesser extent) due to tourism from [[Japan]].<ref>https://au.newcaledonia.travel/travel-guide/plan-your-trip-from-a-to-z/</ref>

==Economy==
Although it is not currently a major tourist destination, Nouméa has experienced a construction boom in the 21st century. The installation of amenities has kept pace and the municipality boasts a public works programme.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} The mayor of Noumea is [[Sonia Lagarde]]; in 2020 her re-election was opposed by the former leader of the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME), [[Cherifa Linossier]], whose unsuccessful campaign was based on local economic revitalisation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 October 2021|title=Chérifa Linossier candidate à la mairie de Nouméa pour les municipales – No|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/nouvellecaledonie/province-sud/noumea/cherifa-linossier-candidate-mairie-noumea-municipales-794485.html|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030222944/https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/nouvellecaledonie/province-sud/noumea/cherifa-linossier-candidate-mairie-noumea-municipales-794485.html|archive-date=30 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=30 October 2021|title=Chérifa Linossier se lance dans la course aux municipales à Nouméa {{!}} LNC.nc {{!}} Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, le Journal de Nouvelle Calédonie|url=https://www.lnc.nc/breve/cherifa-linossier-se-lance-dans-la-course-aux-municipales-a-noumea|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030224634/https://www.lnc.nc/breve/cherifa-linossier-se-lance-dans-la-course-aux-municipales-a-noumea|archive-date=30 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=29 June 2020|title=Second round of New Caledonian municipal elections finally held|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/420082/second-round-of-new-caledonian-municipal-elections-finally-held|access-date=30 October 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Aircalin]], the international airline of New Caledonia,<ref>"[http://us.aircalin.com/contact-aircalin.php Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601195747/http://us.aircalin.com/contact-aircalin.php |date=1 June 2009 }}." [[Aircalin]]. Retrieved on 2 October 2009.</ref> and [[Air Calédonie]] (Aircal), the domestic airline, have their headquarters in the city.<ref>"[http://air-caledonie.nc:8080/en/ukcontact.htm AIR CALÉDONIE CONTACTS]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Air Calédonie]]. Retrieved on 2 October 2009.</ref> Aircal's headquarters are on the grounds of [[Nouméa Magenta Airport]],<ref>"[http://www.air-caledonie.nc/fr/pdf/carte_renew_nb.pdf Renouvellement de Carte Résident] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530002353/http://www.air-caledonie.nc/fr/pdf/carte_renew_nb.pdf |date=30 May 2009 }}." Air Calédonie. Retrieved on 8 October 2009.</ref>
which serves local routes. Nouméa's international airport is [[La Tontouta International Airport]], {{convert|50|km|mi}} from the city.

The [[Nouméa-Païta railway]], which was the only railway line that ever existed in New Caledonia, was closed in 1940.

==Education==
[[File:Main building at Nouville campus, University of New Caledonia.png|thumb|250px|[[University of New Caledonia]], Nouville campus, 2011]]
[[File:Exterior view of Bernheim Library, Nouméa.png|thumb|250px|Bernheim Library exterior, 2011]]
[[File:Interior View 2 of Bernheim Library, Noumea.png|thumb|250px|Bernheim Library interior, 2011]]
The [[University of New Caledonia]] (UNC) dates to 1987 when the Université française du Pacifique (French University of the Pacific) was created, with two centres, one in French Polynesia and the other in New Caledonia. In 1997 the decision was made to split the two parts into separate universities and so in 1999 the Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie and the Université de la Polynésie française were formed.

UNC welcomes around 3,000 local and international students and 100 professors and researchers each year.<ref>"{{cite web |url=http://www.univ-nc.nc/propos-de-lunc/presentation |title=Histoire |access-date=2012-01-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119221009/http://www.univ-nc.nc/propos-de-lunc/presentation |archive-date=19 January 2012}} Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Retrieved on 5 January 2012.</ref>

The ''Bibliothèque Bernheim'' (Bernheim Library) is located in Nouméa.<ref>"[http://www.bernheim.nc/distribution.asp?page=information/vico.asp&inter=0&num=5&parcours=information/paco.asp coordonnées & horaires] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316185105/http://www.bernheim.nc/distribution.asp?page=information%2Fvico.asp&inter=0&num=5&parcours=information%2Fpaco.asp |date=16 March 2011 }}." Bibliothèque Bernheim. Retrieved on 12 February 2011.</ref>

The city is home to [[List of museums in New Caledonia|several museums]], including the [[Maritime Museum of New Caledonia]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wéry|first=Claudine|date=2005-04-08|title='What news of Lapérouse?'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/apr/08/guardianweekly.guardianweekly11|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Oceania}}
Nouméa is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Villes jumelles|url=https://www.noumea.nc/decouvrir-noumea/villes-jumelles|website=noumea.nc|date=5 February 2013|publisher=Nouméa|language=fr|access-date=2020-07-20}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], Australia
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nice]], France
*{{flagicon|PYF}} [[Papeete]], French Polynesia
*{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Taupō]], New Zealand

==Notable people==
* [[Marianne Devaux]] – politician
* [[Ilaïsaane Lauouvéa]] – politician
* [[Gilles Pisier]] – mathematician
* [[Peato Mauvaka]] – rugby union player
* [[Maxime Grousset]] – Olympic swimmer

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.newcaledonia.travel/ Official Site for New Caledonia Tourism]
*{{in lang|fr}} {{Official website|/www.ville-noumea.nc|Nouméa's official municipal website}}
*{{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20050328065902/http://www.ac-noumea.nc/laperouse/site-hg/site/ Nouméa: Commune Française du Bout du Monde] – a school project on the geography and history of Nouméa

{{sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Administrative divisions of New Caledonia}}
{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noumea}}
[[Category:Nouméa| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Oceania]]
[[Category:Communes of New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Oceania]]