At stake in this referendum:  

• The independence of New Caledonia

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Francois HOLLANDE*
• Head of Government: President of the Governement Philippe GERMAINE**
• Assembly: New Caledonia has a unicameral Territorial Congress (Congres du Territoire) with 54 seats.

* Represented in New Caledonia by High Commissioner Thierry LATASTE

** President of the Governement is elected by parliament to serve a 5-year term.

Electoral requirements:  

• The referendum requires a simple majority to pass

About the referendum:  

• The referendum is on New Caledonia’s independence from France. New Caledonia is currently a French territory. The last independence referendum was in 1987.

Provisions in the referendum:

• Do you want New Caledonia to accede to full sovereignty and become independent?

Population and number of registered voters:  

• Population: 279,821 (2018 est.)
• Registered Voters: 174,154 (2018)

Gender Data:  

• Female Population: 138,958 (2018 est.)
• Is New Caledonia a signatory to CEDAW: Yes – via France (17 July 1980)
• Has New Caledonia ratified CEDAW: Yes – via France (14 December 1980)
• Gender Quota: N/A
• Female candidates in this election: N/A
• Number of Female Parliamentarians: 18
• Human Development Index Position: France – 24 (2018)
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: France – Very Low (2014)

Disability Data:  

• Is New Caledonia a signatory to CRPD: Yes – via France (30 March 2007)
• Has New Caledonia ratified CRPD: Yes – via France (18 Febraury 2010)
• Population with a disability: 41,973 (2018 est.)