Fiji

Republic of the Fiji IslandsRepublic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti

republicIndependence 10 October 1970 (from UK)

Fiji as the 2007 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSuva (on Viti Levu), UTC+12

Position18 00 S, 175 00 E

Area18,270 sq km

LocationOceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Populationas each edition published it

918,675 people July 2007 est. · 759,567 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.394% 2007 est. · 0.95% in 1993

Median ageyears

24.9 years 2007 est. · 23.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.12 years 2007 est. · 64.86 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.7 children per woman 2007 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

11.99 deaths per 1,000 live births 2007 est. · 22 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,200 2006 est. · $1,900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.1% 2006 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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). 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. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was appointed interim prime minister.

Geography

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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Land useshare of 18,270 sq km

arable land 10.95%permanent crops 4.65%other 84.4% (2005)irrigated 30 sq km (2003)

Area

18,270sq km

land: 18,270 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than New Jersey

Coastline

1,129km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added

Highest point

1,324m

Tomanivilowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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 references

Oceania

Climate

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Natural resources

timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Natural hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited

People

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Age structuremale left, female right · (2007 est.)

18,397

65 and over4.4%

22,191

297,709

15-6464.7%

296,897

144,665

0-1430.9%

138,816

MaleFemale

Population

918,675

(July 2007 est.)growth rate: 1.394% (2007 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2007 est.)

Birth

22.37Death

5.66Net migration

-2.78

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2007 est.)70.12

67.6 · 72.76Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)11.99

13.3 · 10.61

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)93.7%

95.5% · 91.9%Median age years (2007 est.)24.9

24.4 · 25.4

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions(1996 census)

Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%)Hindu 34% (Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%)Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%. other 2.8%)other or unspecified 5.6%none 0.3% (1996 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%

(2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.042 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.003 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.829 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.006 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.7 children born/woman (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Fijian(s)
adjective:: Fijian

Ethnic groups

Fijian 54.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.4%, other 7.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2005 estimate)

Languages

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Government

Republic; President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000); Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

44.6%

SDL 44.6%FLP 39.2%UPP 0.8%independents 4.9%other 10.5%House of Representatives - last held 6-13 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

House of Representatives, 71 seats, elected 6-13 May 2006one dot, one seat

SDL 36FLP 31UPP 2independents 2

Percent of vote

SDL 44.6%FLP 39.2%UPP 0.8%independents 4.9%other 10.5%

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form:: Fiji
local long form:: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form:: Fiji/Viti

Government type

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)

Administrative divisions

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence

10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Constitution

enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

Legal system

based on British system

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000);
note - ILOILOVATU was reaffirmed as president by the Great Council of Chiefs in a statement issued on 22 December, and reappointed by the coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA in January 2007
head 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;
the president appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under the military regime
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament;
note - coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
elections:: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
prime minister appointed by the president;
election last held 8 March 2006
election results:: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 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 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 6-13 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
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

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president);
Court of Appeal;
High Court;
Magistrates' Courts

Political parties and leaders

Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA];
Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]);
Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY];
General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party);
Girmit Heritage Party or GHP;
Justice and Freedom Party or AIM;
Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR;
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Penijamini R. LOMALOMA
chancery:: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX:: [1] (202) 466-8325

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER
embassy:: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address:: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone:: [679] 331-4466
FAX:: [679] 330-0081

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

Economy

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.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$5.594billion

(2006 est.)official exchange rate: $2.045 billion (2006 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$6,200

(2006 est.)

Real growth rate

3.1%

(2006 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(2005)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 8.9%industry 13.5%services 77.6% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

Singapore

28.8%

13.9%

Australia

23.3%

16.8%

13.5%

5.3%

Japan

4.7%

Samoa

China

4.7%

4.1%

Tonga

Exports $719.6 million f.o.b. (2005)Imports $1.462 billion c.i.f. (2005)(2006)

Budget

Revenues

$720.5 millionExpenditures

$728.3 million (2005 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

1.046 billion (2005)Electricity consumption

972.8 million (2005)

Economy - 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 300,000 to 400,000 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 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time.

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 increased significantly.

Labor force

137,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:: 70%
industry and services:: 30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (1999)

Population below poverty line

25.5% (FY90/91)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas;
cattle, pigs, horses, goats;
fish

Industries

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Current account balance

$-465.8 million (2006 est.)

Exports

$719.6 million f.o.b. (2005)

Exports - commodities

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Imports

$1.462 billion c.i.f. (2005)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Economic aid - recipient

$63.96 million (2005)

Debt - external

$127 million (2004 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Market value of publicly traded shares

$586.7 million (2005)

Currency (code)

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Exchange rates

Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

205,000

(2005)

Internet users

12,137

(2007)

Fixed lines

112,500

(2005) · country code .fj

Telephone system

general assessment:: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic:: 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 density is about 35 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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

Internet users

80,000 (2006)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 3Unpaved 25

Networkskm

Roadways

3,440Railways

597Waterways

203

Roadways: paved: 1,692 km · unpaved: 1,748 km (1999) · Railways: narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2006) · Waterways: note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2006)