Statistics Fiji 
Fiji in the World
Fiji - Introduction 2022
top of pageBackground:
Austronesians settled Fiji around 1000 B.C., followed by successive waves of Melanesians starting around the first century A.D. Fijians traded with Polynesian groups in Samoa and Tonga, and by about 900, much of Fiji was in the Tu’i Tongan Empire’s sphere of influence. The Tongan influence declined significantly by 1200, while Melanesian seafarers continued to periodically arrive in Fiji, further mixing Melanesian and Polynesian cultural traditions. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to spot Fiji in 1643, followed by British explorer James COOK in 1774. Captain William BLIGH plotted the islands in 1789. In the 1800s, merchants, traders, and whalers frequented the islands and the first missionaries arrived in 1835. Rival kings and chiefs competed for power, at times aided by Europeans and their weapons, and in 1865, Seru Epenisa CAKOBAU united many groups into the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti. The arrangement proved weak and in 1871 CAKOBAU formed the Kingdom of Fiji in an attempt to centralize power. Fearing a hostile takeover by a foreign power as the kingdom’s economy began to falter, CAKOBAU ceded Fiji to the UK in 1874.
The first British governor set up a plantation-style economy and brought in more than 60,000 Indians as indentured laborers, most of whom chose to stay in Fiji rather than return to India when their contracts expired. In the early 1900s, society was divided along ethnic lines, with iTaukei (indigenous Fijians), Europeans, and Indo-Fijians living in separate areas and maintaining their own languages and traditions. ITaukei fears of an Indo-Fijian takeover of government delayed independence through the 1960s; Fiji achieved independence in 1970 with agreements in place to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. Long-serving Prime Minister Kamisese MARA largely balanced these ethnic divisions, but concerns about growing Indo-Fijian political influence led to two coups in 1987. A new constitution in 1990 cemented iTaukei control of politics, leading thousands of Indo-Fijians to leave. A reformed constitution in 1997 was more equitable and led to the election of an Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999, who was ousted in a coup the following year. In 2005, the new prime minister put forward a bill that would grant pardons to the coup perpetrators, leading Commodore Josaia BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and continues to hold the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible.
With well-developed infrastructure, Fiji has become a hub for the Pacific, hosting the secretariat for the Pacific Islands Forum and the main campus of the University of the South Pacific. In addition, Fiji is a center for Pacific tourism, and Nadi International Airport is by far the busiest airport in a Pacific island country.
The first British governor set up a plantation-style economy and brought in more than 60,000 Indians as indentured laborers, most of whom chose to stay in Fiji rather than return to India when their contracts expired. In the early 1900s, society was divided along ethnic lines, with iTaukei (indigenous Fijians), Europeans, and Indo-Fijians living in separate areas and maintaining their own languages and traditions. ITaukei fears of an Indo-Fijian takeover of government delayed independence through the 1960s; Fiji achieved independence in 1970 with agreements in place to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. Long-serving Prime Minister Kamisese MARA largely balanced these ethnic divisions, but concerns about growing Indo-Fijian political influence led to two coups in 1987. A new constitution in 1990 cemented iTaukei control of politics, leading thousands of Indo-Fijians to leave. A reformed constitution in 1997 was more equitable and led to the election of an Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999, who was ousted in a coup the following year. In 2005, the new prime minister put forward a bill that would grant pardons to the coup perpetrators, leading Commodore Josaia BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and continues to hold the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible.
With well-developed infrastructure, Fiji has become a hub for the Pacific, hosting the secretariat for the Pacific Islands Forum and the main campus of the University of the South Pacific. In addition, Fiji is a center for Pacific tourism, and Nadi International Airport is by far the busiest airport in a Pacific island country.
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguouszone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Land use
Agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.6% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 55.7% (2018 est.)
Other: 21% (2018 est.)
Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 25.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Industrial: 9.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Geography
Note: consists of 332 islands, approximately 110 of which are inhabited, and more than 500 islets
Fiji - People 2022
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas: 943,737 (2022 est.)
Growth rate: 0.44% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line: 29.9% (2019 est.)
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
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.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 26.86% (male 128,499/female 122,873)
15-24 years: 15.51% (male 73,993/female 71,139)
25-54 years: 41.05% (male 196,932/female 187,270)
55-64 years: 9.25% (male 43,813/female 42,763)
65 years and over: 7.34% (male 31,556/female 37,136) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53
Youth dependency ratio: 44.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.7
Potential support ratio: 11.4 (2021 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.)
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: 10.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
Total: 10.06 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 11.59 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.45 deaths/1000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.27 years
Male: 71.6 years
Female: 77.07 years (2022 est.)
Drinking water source
Improved:
urban: 98.2% of population
rural: 89.1% of population
total: 94.3% of population
rural: 89.1% of population
total: 94.3% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 1.8% of population
rural: 10.9% of population
total: 5.7% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 10.9% of population
total: 5.7% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
Improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vector borne diseases: malaria
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.)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 15.4%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 11.9%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 22.4% (2016 est.)
Fiji - Government 2022
top of pageCountry 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
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
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descentonly: 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
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 and 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 with 28 votes against 23 votes for Teimumu KEPA
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament (51 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 14 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)
Election results: percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 50%, SODELPA 39.6%, NFP 7.4%; seats by party - FijiFirst 27, SODELPA 21, NFP 3; composition - men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6%
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: FijiFirst [Veroqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA]
Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]
Freedom Alliance [Jagath KARUNARATNE] (formerly Fiji United Freedom Party or FUFP)
National Federation Party or NFP [Biman PRASAD] (primarily Indian)
Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Lynda TABUYA]
Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA [Viliame Rogoibulu GAVOKA]
Unity Fiji [Savenaca NARUBE]
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); Charge d'Affaires Akuila VUIRA
In the us chancery: 1707 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 466-8,320
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 466-8,325
In 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 anthem
Name: "God Bless Fiji"
Lyrics and 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
Fiji - Economy 2022
top of pageReal gdp purchasing power parity:
$9.86 billion (2020 est.)
$12.18 billion (2019 est.)
$12.23 billion (2018 est.)
$12.18 billion (2019 est.)
$12.23 billion (2018 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real gdp per capita:
$11,000 (2020 est.)
$13,700 (2019 est.)
$13,800 (2018 est.)
$13,700 (2019 est.)
$13,800 (2018 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
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
Labor force: 353,100 (2017 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 44.2%
By occupation industry: 14.3%
By occupation services: 41.6% (2011)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 15.4%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 11.9%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 22.4% (2016 est.)
Budget
Revenues: $1.454 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $1.648 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0.59% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Exports:
$1.23 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.64 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.64 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: United States 29%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 6%, Tonga 6% (2019)
Commodities: water, refined petroleum, fish, raw sugar, gold (2019)
Imports:
$1.97 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.21 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.21 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: Singapore 18%, Australia 13%, China 13.8%, New Zealand 11%, France 11%, South Korea 8% (2017)
Commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, wheat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.116 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$908.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$908.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar
2.05955 (2020 est.)
2.17345 (2019 est.)
2.1104 (2018 est.)
2.0976 (2014 est.)
1.8874 (2013 est.)
2.05955 (2020 est.)
2.17345 (2019 est.)
2.1104 (2018 est.)
2.0976 (2014 est.)
1.8874 (2013 est.)
Fiji - Energy 2022
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification total population: 99.6% (2018)
Access electrification urban areas: 100% (2018)
Access electrification rural areas: 99.2% (2018)
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.)
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.)
Fiji - Communication 2022
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 48,510 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 991,500 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.)
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: 444,978 (2019 est.)
Users percent of population: 50% (2019 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 23,062 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Fiji - Military 2022
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $160 million)
1.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $160 million)
1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $150 million)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $160 million)
1.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $160 million)
1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $150 million)
Military and security forces: Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF): Land Force Command, Maritime Command; Fiji Police Force (2022)
Note: the RFMF is subordinate to the president as the commander-in-chief, while the Fiji Police Force reports to the the Ministry of Defense, National Security, and Policing
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2022)
Fiji - Transportation 2022
top of pageNational 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
Airports
Total: 28 (2021)
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2021)
With unpaved runways total: 24
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 19 (2021)
Railways
Total: 597 km (2008)
Narrowgauge: 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
Fiji - Transnational issues 2022
top of pageDisputes 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
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