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 1992 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1992 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.

Area
Total: 18,270 km²
Land: 18,270 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,129 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: none

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

Population: 749,946 (July 1992), growth rate 0.9% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Fijian(s; adjective - Fijian

Ethnic groups:

Languages: English (official; Fijian; Hindustani

Religions:

Birth rate: 25 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: -10 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
Current issues note: located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean

Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1992)

Literacy: 86% (male 90%, female 81%) age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Fiji

Government type:

Capital: Suva

Administrative divisions:

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Constitution:

Legal system: based on British system

Suffrage: none
House of Representatives:

Executive branch:

Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the Constitution of 23 September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation:
US: Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street, Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone 679 314-466; FAX 679 300-081

Flag description:

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 13% to GDP. Fiji traditionally had 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 uncertainty 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. In 1990 the economy received a setback from cyclone Sina, which cut sugar output by an estimated 21%.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, per capita $1,700; real growth rate 3.5% (1991 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats

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

Industrial production growth rate:

Labor force: 235,000; subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
Organized labor: about 45,000 employees belong to some 46 trade unions, which are organized along lines of work and ethnic origin (1983)

Unemployment rate: 5.9% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues $413 million; expenditures $464 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1992 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $646 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish, lumber
Partners: EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6%

Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: machinery and transport equipment 32%, food 15%, petroleum products, consumer goods, chemicals
Partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.4855 (January 1992), 1.4756 (1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988), 1.2439 (1987)

Electricity
Production: 215,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 430 kWh per capita (1990)

Airports:

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

Merchant marine:
Civil air: 1 DC-3 and 1 light aircraft