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 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Reelected 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. Following years of political turmoil long-delayed legislative elections were held in September 2014 that were deemed 'credible' by international observers and that resulted in BAINIMARAMA being reelected.


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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: Oceania

Area
Total: 18,274 km²
Land: 18,274 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 157
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
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m: highest point: Tomanivi 1324 m

Natural resources: timber fish gold copper offshore oil potential hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 23.3%
Forest: 55.7%
Other: 21%

Irrigated land: 40 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Geography
Note: includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited


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Population
Distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas: 920,938 (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 161
Growth rate: 0.6% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 149
Below poverty line: 31% (2009 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Fijian
Adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups: iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture) Indian 37.5% Rotuman 1.2% other 4.5% (European part European other Pacific Islanders Chinese)
Note: a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTuakei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji

Languages: English (official) Fijian (official) Hindustani

Religions: Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6% Assembly of God 5.7% Seventh Day Adventist 3.9% and Anglican 0.8%) Hindu 27.9% other Christian 10.4% Roman Catholic 9.1% Muslim 6.3% Sikh 0.3% other 0.3% none 0.8% (2007 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 27.7%
15-24 years: 16.13%
25-54 years: 41.08%
55-64 years: 8.53%
65 years and over: 6.55% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 52.8
Youth dependency ratio: 43.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.9
Potential support ratio: 11.2

Median age
Total: 28.9 years
Male: 28.7 years
Female: 29.1 years
Rank: 127

Population growth rate: 0.6% (2017 est.)
Rank: 149

Birth rate: 18.6 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 91

Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 159

Net migration rate: -6.5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 202

Population distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas

Urbanization
Urban population: 54.5% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.18% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: SUVA (capital) 176,000 (2014)

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male/female
Total population: 1.03 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.5 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 10.5 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 143

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73 years
Male: 70.3 years
Female: 75.8 years
Rank: 140

Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 83

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.44 physicians/1000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2016 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 102
People living with hivaids: 1000 (2016 est.)
Deaths: 100 (2016 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country ; it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex via blood transfusion or during pregnancy in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 30.2% (2016)
Rank: 24

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2013)
Rank: 102

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
Conventional short form: Fiji
Local long form: Republic of Fiji/Matanitu ko Viti
Local short form: Fiji/Viti
Etymology: the Fijians called their home Viti but the neighboring Tongans called it Fisi and in the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation - promulgated by explorer Captain James COOK - the designation became Fiji

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
Name: Suva
Geographic coordinates: 18 08 S 178 25 E
Time difference: UTC+12
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba Bua Cakaudrove Kadavu Lau Lomaiviti Macuata Nadroga and Navosa Naitasiri Namosi Ra Rewa Rotuma* Serua Tailevu

Dependent areas

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from the UK)

National holiday: Fiji (Independence) Day 10 October (1970)

Constitution: several previous; latest signed into law September 2013 (2016)

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
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jioji Konousi KONROTE
Head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe 'Frank' BAINIMARAMA
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
Electionsappointments: president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term ; election last held on 12 October 2015 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Jioji Konousi KONROTE elected president; Parliament vote - Jioji Konousi KONROTE 31 Ratu Epeli GANILAU (opposition) 14

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament
Elections: last held on 17 September 2014
Election results: percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 59.2% SODELPA 28.2% NFP 5.5% other 7.1%; seats by party - FijiFirst 32 SODELPA 15 NFP 3

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court ; Court of Appeal (consists of the court president all puisne judges of the High Court and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil criminal family employment and tax divisions)
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 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; puisne judges appointed for not less than 4 years nor more than 7 years with mandatory retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court

Political parties and leaders:

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Solo MARA
In the us chancery: 2000 M Street NW Suite 710 Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] 466-8,320
In the us FAX: [1] 466-8,325
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Judith CEFKIN ; note - also accredited to Kiribati Nauru Tonga and Tuvalu
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] 330-8,685

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 holding a coconut pod between its paws above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane a palm tree a banana bunch and a white dove of peace

National symbols: Fijian canoe; national color: light blue

National anthem
Name: 'God Bless Fiji'
Lyrics and music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES
Note: adopted 1970; known in Fijian as 'Meda Dau Doka' ; adapted from the hymn 'Dwelling in Beulah Land' the anthem's English lyrics are generally sung although they differ in meaning from the official Fijian lyrics

National heritage


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Economy overview:

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 161

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 136

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 141

Gross national saving:
Rank: 156

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 72.4%
Government consumption: 16.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 18.4%
Investment in inventories: 1.2%
Exports of goods and services: 44.3%
Imports of goods and services: -52.5%

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10.7%
Industry: 18%
Services: 71.3%

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (2016 est.)
Rank: 132

Labor force: 351,300 (2016 est.)
Rank: 162
By occupation agriculture: 70%
By occupation industry and services: 30%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 113

Youth unemployment

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.6%
Highest 10: 34.9%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.384 billion
Expenditures: $1.528 billion
Surplus or deficit: -3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 121

Taxes and other revenues: 29.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 81

Public debt:
Rank: 100

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 161

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 118

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 124

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 132

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 140

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 134

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 114

Current account balance:
Rank: 96

Exports:
Rank: 166
Commodities: sugar garments gold timber fish molasses coconut oil mineral water
Partners: US 21.8% Australia 18.1% NZ 8.5% China 6.2% Tonga 5.1% Vanuatu 5.1% UK 4.5% Kiribati 4.1% (2016)

Imports:
Rank: 165
Commodities: manufactured goods machinery and transport equipment petroleum products food chemicals
Partners: NZ 17.1% Australia 17% Singapore 15.1% China 15% Japan 6.7% (2016)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 128

Debt external:
Rank: 170

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
Rank: 107

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
Rank: 103

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access population without electricity: 375,274
Access electrification total population: 59%
Access electrification urban areas: 72%
Access electrification rural areas: 45%
Production: 890 million kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 157
Consumption: 827.7 million kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 161
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 134
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 148
Installed generating capacity: 333,000 kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 154
Generation sources fossil fuels: 36% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 174
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 89
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 39% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 52
Generation sources other renewable sources: 25.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 21

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 135
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 122
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 126
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 134

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 142
Products consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 147
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 154
Products imports: 15,970 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 128

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 134
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 180
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 103
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 124
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 138

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.7 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 155

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 74,182
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8
Fixed lines rank: 150
Mobile cellular total: 927,793
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101
Mobile cellular rank: 161

Telephone system
General assessment: modern local interisland and international public and special-purpose telephone telegraph and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center; subject to occasional devastating cyclones
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-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 110 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 (2016)

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
Users total: 425,680
Users percent of population: 46.5%
Users rank: 139

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 61

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
Number of registered air carriers: 2
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,336,976
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 83,686,504 mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: DQ (2016)

Airports: 28 (2013)
Rank: 121
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways total: 24
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 19

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
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 the harvest season which runs from May to December
Rank: 110

Roadways
Total: 3,440 km
Paved: 1686 km
Unpaved: 1754 km
Rank: 162

Waterways: 203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2012)
Rank: 97

Merchant marine
Total: 11
By type: passenger 4 passenger/cargo 4 refrigerated cargo 1 roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 2 (2010)
Rank: 108

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Lautoka Levuka Suva


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Rank: li>a href='../rankorder/rankorderguide.html'>Guide to Country Comparisons

Illicit drugs