Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
total: 18,274 sq km
country comparison to the world: 157
land: 18,274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly smaller than New Jersey
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
arable land: 9.17%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 86.17% (2011)
total: 0.08 cu km/yr (30%/11%/59%)
per capita: 100.1 cu m/yr (2005)
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
deforestation; soil erosion
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
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Protestant 55.4% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)
896,758 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 129,938/female 124,374)
15-24 years: 17.4% (male 79,597/female 76,080)
25-54 years: 41.1% (male 188,488/female 179,760)
55-64 years: 7.6% (male 34,251/female 33,753)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 23,212/female 27,305) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 52.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 43.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 %
potential support ratio: 12.1 (2013)
total: 27.6 years
male: 27.4 years
female: 27.8 years (2013 est.)
0.73% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
20.28 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
-6.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
urban population: 52% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
SUVA (capital) 174,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
26 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 130
total: 10.46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 141
male: 11.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 71.87 years
country comparison to the world: 139
male: 69.26 years
female: 74.62 years (2013 est.)
2.54 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
3.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 169
0.43 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2009)
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
30.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
4.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 106
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
conventional short form: Fiji
local long form: Republic of Fiji/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form: Fiji/Viti
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)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in January
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
several previous; latest approved July 1997 (suspended in 2009); note - the prime minister submitted a new draft constitution in March 2013 (2013)
common law system based on the English model
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
21 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since 30 July 2009)
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; 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
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 reportedly will be held in 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
highest court(s): 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 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)
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]
Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for restoration of a democratic government)
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Winston THOMPSON (since 20 April 2009)
chancery: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325
chief of mission: Ambassador Frankie A. REED (since 15 October 2011) note - also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
embassy: 158 Princes Rd, Tamavua
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-2267
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
name: "God Bless Fiji"
lyrics/music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
note: adopted 1970; the anthem is 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, 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 12.5% of GDP in 2012.
$4.261 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$3.97 billion (2012 est.)
2.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$4,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 76.6%
government consumption: 13.7%
investment in fixed capital: 22.5%
investment in inventories: -1.9%
exports of goods and services: 49.4%
imports of goods and services: -60.3%
agriculture: 11.7%
industry: 18.1%
services: 70.1% (2012 est.)
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (manioc), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
4%
country comparison to the world: 71
335,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
7.6% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 85
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 34.9% (2009 est.)
revenues: $1.062 billion
expenditures: $1.127 billion (2012 est.)
26.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
-1.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
53.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
4.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
1.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
7% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$1.453 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.495 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$1.958 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.372 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 103
$-425.1 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$932.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
US 14.6%, Australia 13.2%, Japan 6.9%, Samoa 5.8%, Tonga 5.1% (2012)
$1.867 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Singapore 32.8%, Australia 15.5%, NZ 14.5%, China 10.7% (2012)
$921.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$685.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$2.903 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$44.08 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
836.1 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
808.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
245,100 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
49% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
45.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
5.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
30 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 130
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
17,810 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
691.6 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
10,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 137
1.445 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
88,400 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 147
858,800 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 159
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 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)
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)
21,739 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 115
114,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 157
28 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 121
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m:
total: 597 km
country comparison to the world: 108
narrow gauge: 597 km 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 (2008)
total: 3,440 km
country comparison to the world: 162
paved: 1,686 km
unpaved: 1,754 km (2011)
203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 98
total: 11
country comparison to the world: 108
by type: passenger 4, passenger/cargo 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 2) (2010)
major seaport(s): Lautoka, Levuka, Suva
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2011)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2013)
males age 16-49: 233,240
females age 16-49: 222,587 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 183,730
females age 16-49: 188,325 (2010 est.)
male: 8,403
female: 8,039 (2010 est.)
1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 193
