top of pageBackground: 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 May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected 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. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents crippled Fiji's democratic institutions and initially refused to hold elections. In 2012 he promised to hold elections in 2014.
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
top of pageEthnic 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)
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.)
Drinking water source:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 92.2% of population
total: 96.3% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 7.8% of population
total: 3.7% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 92.1% of population
rural: 81.7% of population
total: 87.2% of population
urban: 7.9% of population
rural: 18.3% of population
total: 12.8% of population (2012 est.)
top of pageAdministrative divisions: 14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba Bua Cakaudrove Kadavu Lau Lomaiviti Macuata Nadroga and Navosa Naitasiri Namosi Ra Rewa Rotuma* Serua Tailevu
Constitution: several previous; latest signed into law September 2013 (2013)
Executive branchHead of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime minister he has been confined to his home island; former President ILOILOVATU appointed Commodore Voreqe 'Frank' BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under the military regime
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and responsible to Parliament; note - coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
Elections: under the constitution president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in 2007 the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended from its role in electing the president; prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU was appointed by Chief Justice Anthony GATES
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 members appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister 8 on the advice of the opposition leader and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 members reserved for ethnic Fijians 19 reserved for ethnic Indians 3 reserved for other ethnic groups 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: House of Representatives - last held on 6-13 May 2006 (long delayed the next elections will be held 17 September 2014)
Election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 44.6% FLP 39.2% UPP 0.8% independents 4.9% other 10.5%; seats by party - SDL 36 FLP 31 UPP 2 independents 2
Judicial branch: note - in 1987 the Supreme Court assumed functions formerly performed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
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 are 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; puisine 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:
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]
Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]
Party of the Truth or POTT
United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]
United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
International organization participation: ACP ADB AOSIS C (suspended) CP FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NAM OPCW PCA PIF Sparteca (suspended) SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNMISS UNMIT UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO
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 above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane a palm tree bananas and a white dove
top of pageEconomy overview: Fiji endowed with forest mineral and fish resources is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports remittances from Fijians working abroad and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to 500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. In 2007 tourist arrivals were down almost 6% with substantial job losses in the service sector and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult business climate. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment uncertain land ownership rights and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased significantly. Fiji's current account deficit peaked at 23% of GDP in 2006 and declined to less than 12% of GDP in 2013.
Agriculture products: sugarcane coconuts cassava (manioc tapioca) rice sweet potatoes bananas; cattle pigs horses goats; fish
Industries: tourism sugar clothing copra gold silver lumber small cottage industries
Exports: $932.4 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 160
Commodities: sugar garments gold timber fish molasses coconut oil
Partners: US 14.6% Australia 13.2% Japan 6.9% Samoa 5.8% Tonga 5.1% (2012)
Imports: $1.867 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 163
Commodities: manufactured goods machinery and transport equipment petroleum products food chemicals
Partners: Singapore 32.8% Australia 15.5% NZ 14.5% China 10.7% (2012)
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
1.845 (2013 est.)
1.7899 (2012 est.)
1.9183 (2010 est.)
top of pageFiji - Communication 2014
top of pageTelephone systemDomestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 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 (Pacific Ocean) (2011)
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)
top of pageFiji - Transportation 2014
top of pageWaterways: 203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2012)
Rank: 98
Fiji - Transnational issues 2014
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