Background Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to have dissipated.

NOTE: The information regarding New Caledonia on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of New Caledonia Introduction 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about New Caledonia Introduction 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.