Map of Fiji | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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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
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 1,129 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf:

Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation
Highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 4.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 9.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 55.7% (2018 est.)
Other: 21% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 40 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 28.55 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Geography
Note: consists of 332 islands, approximately 110 of which are inhabited, and more than 500 islets


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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: 947,760 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 0.42% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 29.9% (2019 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Fijian(s)
Adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups: iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 est.)
Note: a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTaukei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji

Languages: English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)

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: 25.17% (male 121,809/female 116,737)
15-64 years: 66.31% (male 321,448/female 307,026)
65 years and over: 8.52% (2023 est.) (male 37,219/female 43,521)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53
Youth dependency ratio: 44.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.7
Potential support ratio: 11.4 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 31.2 years (2023 est.)
Male: 31 years
Female: 31.5 years

Population growth rate: 0.42% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

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: 58.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 178,000 SUVA (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: the widespread practice of waste incineration is a major contributor to air pollution in the country, as are vehicle emissions in urban areas; deforestation and soil erosion are significant problems; a contributory factor to erosion is clearing of land by bush burning, a widespread practice that threatens biodiversity
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 7.36 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.05 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.95 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 38 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.5 years (2023 est.)
Male: 71.9 years
Female: 77.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 35.5% (2021)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 98.2% of population
Improved rural: 89.1% of population
Improved total: 94.3% of population
Unimproved urban: 1.8% of population
Unimproved rural: 10.9% of population
Unimproved total: 5.7% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 3.8% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 0.86 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 30.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 2.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 23.1% (2020 est.)
Male: 35.6% (2020 est.)
Female: 10.5% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.6% (2021) NA

Education expenditures: 5.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Total population: 99.1%
Male: 99.1%
Female: 99.1% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.1% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 14.1%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 25.9%


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
Conventional short form: Fiji
Local long form: Republic of Fiji (English)/ Matanitu ko Viti (Fijian)
Local short form: Fiji (English)/ Viti (Fijian)
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 (on Viti Levu)
Geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name means "little hill" in the native Fijian (iTaukei) language and refers to a mound where a temple once stood

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
History: several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013
Amendments: proposed as a bill by Parliament and supported by at least three quarters of its members, followed by referral to the president and then to the Electoral Commission, which conducts a referendum; passage requires approval by at least three-quarters of registered voters and assent by the president

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: at least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
Elections/appointments: president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 October 2021 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister endorsed by the president
Election results: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president; Wiliame KATONIVERE 28 votes, Teimumu KEPA 23 votes

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament (55 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote with a 5% electoral threshold; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 14 December 2022 (next to be held in 2,026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 42.5%, People's Alliance 35.8%, NFP 8.9%, SODELPA 5.1%, other 7.7%; seats by party - FijiFirst 26, People's Alliance 21, NFP 5, SODELPA 3; composition - men 49, women 6, percent of women 10.9%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); 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 this requirement 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 (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)

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, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Aporosa BABAKOBUA
In the us chancery: 1707 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (917) 208-4,560
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 466-8,325
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 24 November 2022); note - also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
From the us embassy: 158 Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva
From the us mailing address: 4,290 Suva Place, Washington DC 20,521-4,290
From the us telephone: [679] 331-4,466
From the us FAX: [679] 330-2,267
From the us email address and website:

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/music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
Note: adopted 1970; known in Fijian as "Meda Dau Doka" (Let Us Show Pride); 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
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview: upper-middle income, tourism-based Pacific island economy; susceptible to ocean rises; key energy and infrastructure investments; post-pandemic tourism resurgence; improved debt standing; limited workforce

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 81.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 24.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 29% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -51.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 13.5% (2017 est.)
Industry: 17.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 69.1% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: sugar cane, cassava, taro, poultry, vegetables, coconuts, eggs, milk, ginger, sweet potatoes

Industries: tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber

Industrial production growth rate: -8.34% (2021 est.)

Labor force: 372,200 (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.1% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 14.1%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 25.9%

Population below poverty line: 29.9% (2019 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 30.7 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: 2.6%
Highest 10%: 34.9% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $885 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $1.515 billion (2020 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: -4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 19.26% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.59% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:

Exports:
Partners: United States 34%, Australia 14%, China 7%, New Zealand 7%, Tonga 4% (2021)
Commodities: water, fuel wood, gold, sugar, refined petroleum, fish (2021)

Imports:
Partners: New Zealand 18%, China 16%, Singapore 14%, Australia 13%, United States 9% (2021)
Commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, dentistry devices, broadcasting equipment (2021)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 92.1% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 96% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 86.7% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 393,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 1,022,955,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 90 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 41.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 50.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 11,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 17,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.691 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.691 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 32.901 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 48,510 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 990,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: Fiji TV, a publicly traded company, operates a free-to-air channel; Digicel Fiji operates the 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

Internet
Country code: .fj
Users total: 809,600 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 88% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 23,062 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures:

Military and security forces: Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF): Land Force Command, Maritime Command (2023)
Note: the RFMF is subordinate to the president as the commander-in-chief, while the Fiji Police Force reports to the Ministry of Defense, National Security, and Policing

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,670,216 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 106.83 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: DQ

Airports: 28 (2021)
With paved runways: 4
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 24
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 597 km (2008)
Narrow gauge: 597 km (2008) 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

Roadways
Total: 3,440 km (2011)
Paved: 1,686 km (2011)
Unpaved: 1,754 km (2011)

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

Merchant marine
Total: 75 (2022)
By type: general cargo 21, oil tanker 4, other 50

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Lautoka, Levuka, Suva


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Disputes international: Fiji-Tonga: Fiji does not recognize Tonga’s 1972 claim to the Minerva Reefs and their surrounding waters; the Minerva Reefs’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone includes valuable fishing grounds

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs