New Caledonia (France)

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CountryNew Caledonia (France)
Prison administration
Service Pénitentiaire d’Insertion et de Probation de Nouvelle-Calédonie
Contact address
34 bis rue de l’Alma - troisieme etage, BP 164, 98845 Noumea
Telephone
+687 24 72 72
Fax
+687 23 21 95
Head of prison administration (and title)
Jean-Claude Eliac
Directeur
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
609
at 1.10.2024 (French Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
205
based on an estimated national population of 296,750 at beginning of October 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.1%
(1.1.2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(1.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.7%
(1.10.2021 - under 18)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2024 - Nouméa)
Official capacity of prison system
366
(1.10.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
166.4%
(1.10.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1998 303 149
2001 329 154
2003 315 143
2005 251 109
2007 326 138
2011 438 171
2013 402 153
2015 448 166
2017 549 198
2019 535 189
2021 520 180
1998 303 149
2001 329 154
2003 315 143
2005 251 109
2007 326 138
2011 438 171
2013 402 153
2015 448 166
2017 549 198
2019 535 189
2021 520 180

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                           NEW CALEDONIA (FRANCE)

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2016

71

14.2%

26

2020

65

12.1%

23

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                          NEW CALEDONIA (FRANCE)

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2003
2007
2015
2020

4
9
7
9

1.3%
2.8%
1.5%
2.0%

1.8
3.8
2.7
3.2

2024

9

1.5%

3.1

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column.)

Prison population total
Prison population rate