Map of Fiji | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: 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 but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents crippled Fiji's democratic institutions and initially refused to hold elections. In 2012 he promised to hold elections in 2014.


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Location: Oceania island group in the South Pacific Ocean about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S 175 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 157
Land: 18,274 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1129 km

Maritime claims: 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: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Tomanivi 1324 m

Natural resources: timber fish gold copper offshore oil potential hydropower

Land use
Permanent crops: 4.65%
Other: 86.17% (2011)

Irrigated land: 30 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 28.55 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Geography
Note: includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited


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Population: 896,758 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 162
Growth rate: 0.73% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 140
Below poverty line: 31% (2009 est.)

Nationality
Adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups: Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture) Indian 37.6% Rotuman 1.2% other 3.9% (European other Pacific Islanders Chinese) (2007 census)

Languages: English (official) Fijian (official) Hindustani

Religions: Protestant 55.4% (Methodist 34.6% Assembly of God 5.7% Seventh-Day Adventist 3.9% Anglican 0.8% other 10.4%) Hindu 27.9% Roman Catholic 9.1% Muslim 6.3% Sikh 0.3% other or unspecified 0.3% none 0.7% (2007 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 17.4% (male 79,597/female 76,080)
25-54 years: 41.1% (male 188,488/female 179,760)
55-64 years: 7.6% (male 34,251/female 33,753)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 23,212/female 27,305) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 43.9 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 %
Potential support ratio: 12.1 (2013)

Median age
Male: 27.4 years
Female: 27.8 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.73% (2013 est.)
Rank: 140

Birth rate: 20.28 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 86

Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 166

Net migration rate: -6.99 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 200

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: SUVA (capital) 174,000 (2009)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 141
Male: 11.53 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 9.33 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 139
Male: 69.26 years
Female: 74.62 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.54 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 82

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.43 physicians/1000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 123
People living with hivaids: fewer than 1000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 141
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 151

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 30.6% (2008)
Rank: 25

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 106

Literacy
Total population: 93.7%
Male: 95.5%
Female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Fiji
Local long form: Republic of Fiji/Matanitu ko Viti
Local short form: Fiji/Viti

Government type: republic

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 18 08 S 178 25 E
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins fourth Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in January

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central Eastern Northern Rotuma* Western

Dependent areas

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day second Monday of October (1970)

Constitution: several previous; latest approved July 1997 (suspended in 2009); note - the prime minister submitted a new draft constitution in March 2013 (2013)

Legal system: common law system based on the English model

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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; former President ILOILOVATU appointed Commodore Voreqe 'Frank' BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under the military regime
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and responsible to Parliament; note - coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
Elections: under the constitution president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in 2007 the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended from its role in electing the president; prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU was appointed by Chief Justice Anthony GATES

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 members 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 members 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 on 6-13 May 2006 (long delayed the next elections reportedly will be held in 2014)
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: note - in 1987 the Supreme Court assumed functions formerly performed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; judges of the Supreme Court the president of the Court of Appeal the justices of the Court of Appeal and puisne judges of the High Court are appointed by the president of Fiji upon the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission after consulting with the cabinet minister and the committee of the House of Representatives responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice Supreme Court judges and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70 but may be waived for one or more sessions of the court; puisine judges appointed for not less than 4 years nor more than 7 years with mandatory retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court (organized into civil criminal juvenile and small claims divisions)

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP ADB AOSIS C (suspended) CP FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OPCW PCA PIF Sparteca (suspended) SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNMISS UNMIT UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 2000 M Street NW Suite 710 Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 466-8,320
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 466-8,325
From the us embassy: 158 Princes Rd Tamavua
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 218 Suva
From the us telephone: [679] 331-4,466
From the us FAX: [679] 330-2,267

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 blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jack reflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane a palm tree bananas and a white dove

National symbols

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)

National heritage


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Economy overview: 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 400,000 to 500,000 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. In 2007 tourist arrivals were down almost 6% with substantial job losses in the service sector and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult business climate. 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 decreased significantly. Fiji's current account deficit peaked at 23% of GDP in 2006 and declined to 12.5% of GDP in 2012.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 174

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 130

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 162

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 13.7%
Investment in fixed capital: 22.5%
Investment in inventories: -1.9%
Exports of goods and services: 49.4%
Imports of goods and services: -60.3%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 18.1%
Services: 70.1% (2012 est.)

Agriculture products: sugarcane coconuts cassava (manioc) rice sweet potatoes bananas; cattle pigs horses goats; fish

Industries: tourism sugar clothing copra gold silver lumber small cottage industries

Industrial production growth rate: 4%
Rank: 71

Labor force: 335,000 (2007 est.)
Rank: 163
By occupation industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7.6% (1999)
Rank: 85

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 31% (2009 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 34.9% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Expenditures: $1.127 billion (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 79

Taxes and other revenues: 26.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 113

Public debt: 52.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 53

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 8.7% (2011 est.)
Rank: 132

Central bank discount rate: 3% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 104

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 7.47% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 122

Stock of narrow money: $1.098 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 135

Stock of broad money: $2.24 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 147

Stock of domestic credit: $1.868 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 133

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 103

Current account balance: $-363.4 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 102

Exports: $847.7 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 161
Commodities: sugar garments gold timber fish molasses coconut oil
Partners: US 14.6% Australia 13.2% Japan 6.9% Samoa 5.8% Tonga 5.1% (2012)

Imports: $1.698 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 166
Commodities: manufactured goods machinery and transport equipment petroleum products food chemicals
Partners: Singapore 32.8% Australia 15.5% NZ 14.5% China 10.7% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $833.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 136

Debt external: $860.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 168

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $2.621 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 93

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $44.88 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 92

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 836.1 million kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 151
Consumption: 808.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 156
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 194
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 185
Installed generating capacity: 245,100 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 155
Generation sources fossil fuels: 49% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 156
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 86
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 45.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 50
Generation sources other renewable sources: 5.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 39

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 30 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 127
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 112
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 184
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 130

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 174
Products consumption: 17,810 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 135
Products exports: 691.6 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 110
Products imports: 10,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 129

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 130
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 142
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 99
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 191
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 137

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.445 million Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 155

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 88,400 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 147
Mobile cellular: 858,800 (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 159

Telephone system
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 teledensity roughly 100 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) (2011)

Broadcast media: Fiji TV a publicly traded company operates a free-to-air channel as well as Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Ltd operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2009)

Internet
Country code: .fj
Hosts: 21,739 (2012)
Hosts rank: 115
Users: 114,200 (2009)
Users rank: 157

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 88

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2013)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 28 (2013)
Rank: 121
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways: 19 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Rank: 108
Narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge

Roadways
Rank: 162
Paved: 1686 km
Unpaved: 1754 km (2011)

Waterways: 203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2012)
Rank: 98

Merchant marine
Rank: 108
By type: passenger 4 passenger/cargo 4 refrigerated cargo 1 roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 2 (Australia 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs