Photo: Fourrure derivative work: Inkey · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
New Caledonia: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
New Caledonia is placed 115th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 50.12 (2025); Labour Income Share 52.94 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
115th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place New Caledonia on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
50.12
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
New Caledonia: 50.12. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Melanesia
- 83.09 Solomon Islands
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
11.17
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
New Caledonia: 11.17. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Melanesia
- 1.431 Solomon Islands
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
14.16
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
New Caledonia: 14.16. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Melanesia
- 14.16 New Caledonia
02Over time
Which way New Caledonia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
New CaledoniaWorld median
New Caledonia fell from 53.65 in 2000 to 50.12 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year New Caledonia World median 2025 50.12 57.720 2024 50.63 57.694 2023 51.00 58.158 2022 51.42 57.688 2021 50.73 56.066 2020 49.86 55.691 2019 51.38 57.871 2018 52.04 56.911 2017 53.18 56.738 2016 53.66 56.845 2015 54.15 56.788 2014 54.58 56.774 2013 54.85 56.229 2012 55.11 56.289 2011 55.28 56.297 2010 55.32 56.212 2009 55.35 56.255 2008 55.21 57.308 2007 55.06 56.933 2006 54.77 56.685 2005 54.50 56.129 2004 54.28 55.465 2003 54.17 55.630 2002 54.03 55.843 2001 53.90 56.018 2000 53.65 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
New CaledoniaWorld median
New Caledonia rose from 51.53 in 2004 to 52.94 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year New Caledonia World median 2025 52.942 46.230 2024 53.675 46.060 2023 52.302 45.900 2022 51.527 45.615 2021 51.248 45.433 2020 54.523 47.267 2019 52.428 46.277 2018 51.491 46.187 2017 51.939 46.467 2016 52.221 46.798 2015 52.062 46.876 2014 51.903 47.281 2013 51.885 46.887 2012 51.897 46.231 2011 51.480 45.679 2010 51.083 46.024 2009 51.800 47.071 2008 52.066 45.312 2007 51.486 45.246 2006 51.253 45.670 2005 51.578 46.265 2004 51.526 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
New CaledoniaWorld median
New Caledonia fell from 17.91 in 2000 to 11.17 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year New Caledonia World median 2025 11.17 5.08 2024 10.99 5.15 2023 10.92 5.21 2022 10.71 5.34 2021 11.57 6.04 2020 13.56 6.38 2019 10.88 5.36 2018 11.70 5.35 2017 11.68 5.59 2016 12.68 5.90 2015 13.62 6.41 2014 14.59 6.58 2013 14.39 6.71 2012 14.12 6.79 2011 13.99 6.90 2010 14.00 7.04 2009 13.97 6.67 2008 14.36 5.79 2007 14.75 6.00 2006 15.26 6.50 2005 15.78 7.09 2004 16.31 6.80 2003 16.67 6.95 2002 17.05 6.91 2001 17.39 6.96 2000 17.91 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
New CaledoniaWorld median
New Caledonia fell from 14.44 in 2000 to 14.16 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year New Caledonia World median 2025 14.161 28.67 2024 13.994 29.04 2023 13.873 29.33 2022 13.858 29.67 2021 14.723 30.01 2020 15.759 30.54 2019 13.284 29.98 2018 13.293 30.15 2017 13.337 29.93 2016 13.365 29.91 2015 13.320 30.26 2014 13.315 30.47 2013 13.392 31.14 2012 13.461 31.00 2011 13.505 31.41 2010 13.612 32.37 2009 13.813 32.59 2008 13.891 31.76 2007 13.847 33.47 2006 14.074 34.27 2005 14.272 34.66 2004 14.364 35.51 2003 14.455 35.90 2002 14.526 35.96 2001 14.544 35.27 2000 14.438 35.67
03In context
New Caledonia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
New Caledonia and Melanesia
New Caledonia has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Solomon Islands | =39th | 83.09 | 46.94 | 1.431 | 68.65 |
 Vanuatu | 88th | 55.16 | 60.84 | 5.073 | 57.99 |
| New Caledonia | 115th | 50.12 | 52.94 | 11.17 | 14.16 |
 Fiji | 130th | 54.1 | 42.64 | 5.347 | 32.79 |
 Papua New Guinea | 150th | 50.73 | 32.57 | 2.571 | 71.16 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Solomon Islands=39th
- Vanuatu88th
- New Caledonia115th
- Fiji130th
- Papua New Guinea150th
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below New Caledonia in the topic’s list.
Ghana=112th
Togo=112th
Mauritius114th- New Caledonia115th
Ethiopia116th
Chad=117th
Eritrea=117th
04Context, no vote
Where New Caledonia is ahead of the world, and behind
11 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which New Caledonia does better than the middle country measured.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1665.3622.16▼ Worsened since 2015
New Caledonia: 65.36 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 27th of 182 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 014.60No earlier reading
New Caledonia: 14.6 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.967.745.9No earlier reading
New Caledonia: 67.7 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which New Caledonia does worse than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3651.0753.36▼ Worsened since 2015
New Caledonia: 51.07 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 112th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6656.4261.66▼ Worsened since 2015
New Caledonia: 56.42 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 130th of 182 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8333.1112.83No real change since 2015
New Caledonia: 33.11 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 15th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5177.5759.51No real change since 2015
New Caledonia: 77.57 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 32nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8820.6518.88Moved since 2015
New Caledonia: 20.65 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 72nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8417.1431.84Moved since 2015
New Caledonia: 17.14 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 130th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8935.3338.89Moved since 2015
New Caledonia: 35.33 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 131st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.381.78214.38Moved since 2015
New Caledonia: 1.782 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 158th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for New Caledonia
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2015), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2017), Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2020), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2015), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2017), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Length of Paid Maternity Leave, Length of Paid Paternity Leave, Low Pay Rate (last 2017), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2023), Statutory Minimum Wage (last 2021), Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2023). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among New Caledonia’s 3 topics
Work & Labour is New Caledonia’s 3rd best-placed topic of 3. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Tradejoint 108th of 1772/4 keys
- Energy101st of 1652/3 keys
- Work & Labour115th of 1824/4 keys
No standing on Governance & Institutions, Economy & Innovation, Education & Knowledge, Health & Wellbeing, Development & Human Capital, Environment & Sustainability, Gender & Equality, Democracy & Civil Liberties, Peace & Security, Risk & Resilience, Food & Agriculture, Poverty & Inequality, Digital & Technology: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders New Caledonia can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia=4th4/4 keysHighest in Melanesia
Solomon Islands=39th4/4 keysThis page
New Caledonia115th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about New Caledonia and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
New Caledonia on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does New Caledonia rank on work & labour?
New Caledonia is placed 115th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for New Caledonia?
50.12 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for New Caledonia?
52.94 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have New Caledonia’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 53.65 in 2000 to 50.12 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 51.53 in 2004 to 52.94 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 17.91 in 2000 to 11.17 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 14.44 in 2000 to 14.16 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for New Caledonia?
No current reading is published for New Caledonia on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Length of Paid Maternity Leave, Length of Paid Paternity Leave, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 11 statistics on this page come from 1 publisher, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
New Caledonia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- New Caledonia (banner) — Fourrure derivative work: Inkey, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). New Caledonia: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/new-caledonia/work