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). 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 1990 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1990 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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,129 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

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

Land use: 8% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 65% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Geography
Note: located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean

Population: 759,567 (July 1990), growth rate 1.5% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Fijian(s; adjective--Fijian

Ethnic groups: 49% Indian, 46% Fijian, 5% European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and others

Languages: English (official; Fijian; Hindustani

Religions: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu with a Muslim minority

Birth rate: 28 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 70 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 80%

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Fiji

Government type: military coup leader Major General 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

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987; note--a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and awaits final approval

Legal system: based on British system

Suffrage: none

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987; Head of Government--Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5 December 1987; note--Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara served as prime minister from 10 October 1970 until the 5-11 April 1987 election; after a second coup led by Major General Sitiveni Rabuka on 25 September 1987, Ratu Mara was reappointed as prime minister

Legislative branch: integrated ground and naval forces

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: ACP, ADB, Colombo Plan, EC (associate), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Counselor (Commercial), Vice Consul, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Abdul H. YUSUF; Chancery at Suite 240, 2,233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007; telephone (202) 337-8,320; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York; US--Ambassador Leonard ROCHWARGER; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street, Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva; telephone p679o 314-466 or 314-069

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 St. George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Economy 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 10% to GDP. Fiji traditionally 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 uncertainly 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.

Agriculture products: principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats

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

Industrial production growth rate: - 15% (1988 est.)

Labor force: 176,000; 60% subsistence agriculture, 40% wage earners (1979)

Unemployment rate: 11% (1988)

Budget: revenues $260 million; expenditures $233 million, including capital expenditures of $47 million (1988)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $312 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: sugar 49%, copra, processed fish, lumber
Partners: UK 45%, Australia 21%, US 4.7%

Imports: $454 million (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: food 15%, petroleum products, machinery, consumer goods
Partners: US 4.8%, NZ, Australia, Japan

Debt external: $398 million (December 1989 est.)

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1--1.4950 (January 1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988), 1.2439 (1987), 1.1329 (1986), 1.1536 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 215,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 440 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 2.5% of GDP (1988)

Airports: 26 total, 24 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges

Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,872 GRT/49,795 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container, 2 liquefied gas, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker