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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Fiji
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Fiji Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was appointed interim prime minister.
   Geography    Fiji Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
28.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%)
Per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
   People    Fiji Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
918,675 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 144,665/female 138,816)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 297,709/female 296,897)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 18,397/female 22,191) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 25.4 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.394% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22.37 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-2.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.042 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.003 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.829 male(s)/female
total population: 1.006 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11.99 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 70.12 years
male: 67.6 years
female: 72.76 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.7 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Fijian 54.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.4%, other 7.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2005 estimate)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%), Hindu 34% (Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%), Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%. other 2.8%), other or unspecified 5.6%, none 0.3% (1996 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
   Government    Fiji Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form: Fiji/Viti
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on British system
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000); note - ILOILOVATU was reaffirmed as president by the Great Council of Chiefs in a statement issued on 22 December, and reappointed by the coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA in January 2007
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime minister, he has been confined to his home island; the president appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under the military regime
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 6-13 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 44.6%, FLP 39.2%, UPP 0.8%, independents 4.9%, other 10.5%; seats by party - SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Penijamini R. LOMALOMA
chancery: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
   Economy    Fiji Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. The coup has created a difficult business climate. Tourist arrivals for 2007 are estimated to be down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector. In July 2007 the Reserve Bank of Fiji announced the economy was expected to contract by 3.1% in 2007. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.731 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$2.033 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-3.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 13.5%
services: 77.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.6% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
25.5% (FY90/91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3% (2005)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $720.5 million
expenditures: $728.3 million (2005)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.046 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
972.8 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,268 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,870 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$465.8 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$934 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 16.8%, Australia 13.9%, UK 13.5%, Japan 5.3%, Samoa 4.7%, Tonga 4.1% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.595 billion c.i.f. (2006)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore 28.8%, Australia 23.3%, NZ 16.8%, China 4.7% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$63.96 million (2005)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$127 million (2004 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$586.7 million (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Fijian dollar (FJD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Fijian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Fiji Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
112,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
205,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is about 35 per 100 persons
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.fj
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,137 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
80,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Fiji Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
28 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 18 (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2006)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 17,376 GRT/8,788 DWT
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Lautoka, Suva
   Military    Fiji Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 45 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 215,104
females age 18-49: 212,739 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 163,960
females age 18-49: 178,714 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 9,266
females age 18-49: 8,916 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.2% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Fiji Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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