Map of Fiji | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | 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
Country comparison total: 0 km

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: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation, measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

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.)
Agricultural land forest: 55.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land 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 m³ (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
Total: 951,611
Male: 482,304
Female: 469,307 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 24.1% (2019 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

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: 24.7% (male 119,910/female 114,904)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 323,339/female 308,921)
65 years and over: 8.9% (2024 est.) (male 39,055/female 45,482)

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: 31.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 31.4 years
Female: 31.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.4% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 15.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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 (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

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

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.2 years
Female: 77.6 years

Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 35.5% (2021)

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

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

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

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: 100% of population
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

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: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 11.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 22.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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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 Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA (since 24 December 2022)
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: 2021: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president; Wiliame KATONIVERE (People's Alliance) 28 votes, Teimumu KEPA (SODELPA) 23 votes; 2018: Jioji Konousi KONROTE reelected president (unopposed)

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 2026)
Elections 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 50, women 5, percentage women 9.1%

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: Fiji First , Fiji Labor Party or FLP , Freedom Alliance (formerly Fiji United Freedom Party or FUFP), National Federation Party or NFP , People's Alliance , Peoples Democratic Party or PDP , Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA , Unity Fiji

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 Ilisoni VUIDREKETI (since 17 June 2024)
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: info@FijiEmbassyDC.com; [link]
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 24 November 2022)
From the us 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: SuvaACS@state.gov; [link]

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: $12.699 billion (2023 est.); $11.756 billion (2022 est.); $9.795 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 8.03% (2023 est.); 20.02% (2022 est.); -4.88% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $13,600 (2023 est.); $12,600 (2022 est.); $10,600 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 67.5% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -4.8% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 55.2% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -65.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Industry: 16.1% (2023 est.)
Services: 52.9% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: sugarcane, cassava, taro, chicken, vegetables, coconuts, ginger, rice, milk, sweet potatoes (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 15.32% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 391,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.33% (2023 est.); 4.48% (2022 est.); 4.68% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 11.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 22.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 24.1% (2019 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.019 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $1.488 billion (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 15.87% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

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

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.52% (2022 est.); 0.16% (2021 est.); -2.6% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: -$865.665 million (2022 est.); -$686.577 million (2021 est.); -$614.13 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $2.376 billion (2022 est.); $1.171 billion (2021 est.); $1.23 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 39%, Australia 11%, Tonga 5%, NZ 5%, China 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: water, fish, refined petroleum, wood, garments (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $3.434 billion (2022 est.); $2.344 billion (2021 est.); $1.977 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Singapore 23%, China 16%, Australia 13%, NZ 11%, South Korea 8% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, plastics, wheat, garments (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.548 billion (2023 est.); $1.557 billion (2022 est.); $1.518 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $1.235 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 97.6%
Access electrification rural areas: 86.8%
Installed generating capacity: 413,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 936.309 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 101.775 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 40.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 54.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 3.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 2.1 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 2.1 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.248 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.248 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 21.041 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 49,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 992,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Force Command, Maritime Command (2024)
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 (2024)
Note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 8% of the Fiji Military Forces

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: 26 (2024)

Heliports: 2 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 7,500 km (2023)

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

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs