Statistical information Fiji 1993

Fiji in the World
top of pageBackground: 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). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1993 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1993 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian. Fiji has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 18,270 km²
Land: 18,270 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
ElevationNatural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential
Land useArable land: 8%
Permanent crops: 5%
Meadows and pastures: 3%
Other: 19%
Irrigated land: 10 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 756,762 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 0.95% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Fijian(s)
Adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:
Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Religions:
Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%,
Muslim 8%, other 2%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 24.74 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.65 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 18.4 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 64.86 years
Male: 62.62 years
Female: 67.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
Total population: 86%
Male: 90%
Female: 81%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Fiji
Conventional short form: Fiji
Government type:
republic; military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared
Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital: Suva
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern,
Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Dependent areasIndependence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution:
10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new
Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; the 1990 Constitution is currently still under review (February 1993)
Legal system: based on British system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet, Great Councils of Chiefs (highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system)
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the Constitution of 23 September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court Chief of State: President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987; Vice President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 14 April 1992; Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 14 April 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992; Deputy Prime Minister Filipe BOLE (since 11 June 1992; Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Timoci VESIKULA (since 11 June 1993)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC,
SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA
In the us chancery: Suite 240, 2,233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: (202) 337-8,320
In the us consulate: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN
From the us embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
From the us telephone: 679 314-466
From the us fax: 679 300-081
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange, and sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial output. Industry, including sugar milling, contributes 13% to GDP. Fiji traditionally had earned considerable sums of hard currency from the 250,000 tourists who visited each year. In 1987, however, after two military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP dropped by 7.8% in 1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainty created a drop in tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar production to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously. In 1990 the economy received a setback from cyclone Sina, which cut sugar output by an estimated 21%. Sugar exports recovered in 1991-92.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3% (1992 est.)
Real gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats; fish catch nearly 33,000 tons (1989)
Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:
growth rate 8.4% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of
GDP
Labor force: 235,000
Unemployment rate: 5.9% (1991 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $455 million; expenditures $546 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $435 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish, lumber
Partners: EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6%
Imports: $553 million (c.i.f., 1991)
Commodoties: machinery and transport equipment 32%, food 15%, petroleum products, consumer goods, chemicals
Partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.5809 (January 1993), 1.5029 (1992), 1.4756 (1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 215,000 kW capacity; 420 million kWh produced, 560 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaFiji - Communication 1993
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $22.4 million, about 2% of GDP (FY91/92)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsFiji - Transportation 1993
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 25
Usable: 22
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,072 GRT/47,187
Ports and terminalsFiji - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs