Over 10,000 people left New Caledonia in 2024, according to New Caledonia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) President David Guyenne.
Guyenne told public broadcaster NC la 1ère these figures (10,713, or about 4% of the total population) were based on departures and arrivals data collected by the French Pacific territory’s La Tontouta airport, which is managed by the CCI.
Guyenne said even though the figures were linked to air traffic only, La Tontouta airport manages about 99% of New Caledonia’s population flows.
New Caledonia’s official census (which usually takes place every five years) was scheduled to take place in 2024, but had to be postponed for security reasons, due to the insurrectional riots that started in May 2024.
Last week, New Caledonia’s statistical institute ISEE Director Elise Desmazures, said plans were already underway for the population count to happen this year.
She said this exercise, which needs at least for months of preparation, was very important in order to obtain reliable figures.
Meanwhile, New Caledonia’s Northern district hospital, which serves the small towns of Poindimié and
Koumac, will be forced to close its emergency services this month, provincial authorities have announced.
The closure will initially last for one month, with an expected reopening by March 2025.
This was due to a lack of medical practitioners and nurses.
The move was said to affect the Northern and Eastern Coast parts of the main island of Grande Terre.
However, in the same region, the Koné emergency services will remain open 24/7.
The whole of New Caledonia has been experiencing an acute shortage of medical personnel since the
May 2024 riots.
