Is new caledonia a country

New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France, which means it is not an independent country. It is a territory that is part of France, but has a degree of autonomy.

New Caledonia is located in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, and has a population of around 280,000 people. It has its own government, known as the Government of New Caledonia, which is responsible for internal affairs, but France is responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and some other matters.

New Caledonia has a unique status within the French Republic, which is governed by the Nouméa Accord, a treaty signed in 1998. The accord provides for a gradual transfer of powers from France to New Caledonia over a period of 15 years, with the goal of achieving full autonomy by 2020.

However, the process of achieving full autonomy has been delayed several times, and the future status of New Caledonia remains uncertain. Some people in New Caledonia advocate for independence, while others prefer to remain part of France.

In 2018, a referendum was held in New Caledonia on the question of independence, but it was rejected by a narrow margin. The French government has since announced that it will continue to support New Caledonia's autonomy, but the issue of independence remains a topic of debate.

In summary, while New Caledonia is not an independent country, it has a significant degree of autonomy and is working towards achieving full autonomy within the French Republic.