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 refused to hold elections.
Geography ::Fiji
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
Area:
total: 18,274 sq km
country comparison to the world: 156
land:
18,274 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
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
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
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 ::Fiji
Population:
957,780 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 147,243/female 141,177)
15-64 years:
65% (male 311,680/female 310,407)
65 years and over:
4.9% (male 21,220/female 26,053) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male:
25.3 years
female:
26.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.367% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Birth rate:
21.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Net migration rate:
-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.81 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 145
male:
12.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.03 years
country comparison to the world: 138
male:
68.46 years
female:
73.73 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.63 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
580 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective:
Fijian
Ethnic groups:
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)
Religions:
Christian 64.5%
(Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day
Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%,
Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)
Languages:
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.7%
male:
95.5%
female:
91.9% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male:
13 years
female:
13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
6.5% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 30
Government ::Fiji
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)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins fourth Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:
enacted on 25 July 1997;
effective on 28 July 1998; note - it encourages multiculturalism and
makes multiparty government mandatory
Legal system:
based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 (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
[Sitiveni RABUKA] (primarily Fijian), 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 [Pramond RAE]
(primarily Indian); 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:
Group Against Racial
Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for restoration of a
democratic government); Viti Landowners Association
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 C. Steven MCGANN
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 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
Economy ::Fiji
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 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 reached 23% of
GDP in 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.704 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$3.799 billion (2008 est.)
$3.803 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.084 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
-0.1% (2008 est.)
-0.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$4,100 (2008 est.)
$4,100 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.9%
industry:
13.5%
services:
77.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
335,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
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)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
US 15.7%, UK 12%, Australia 10.6%, Samoa 5.4%, Tonga 4.8%, Japan 4.2%, NZ 4% (2008)
Imports:
$3.12 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 136
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 29.9%, Australia 20.1%, NZ 15.2%, China 5.3%, India 4.5% (2008)
Debt - external:
$127 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)
Communications ::Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
129,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
Telephones - mobile cellular:
580,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
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 teledensity is about 80 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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet hosts:
12,747 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
103,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Transportation ::Fiji
Airports:
28 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
19 (2009)
Railways:
total: 597 km
country comparison to the world: 111
narrow gauge:
597 km 0.580-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)
Roadways:
total: 3,440 km
country comparison to the world: 162
paved:
1,692 km
unpaved:
1,748 km (2000)
Waterways:
203 km
country comparison to the world: 98
note:122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 117
by type:
passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:
1 (Australia 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Lautoka, Suva
Military ::Fiji
Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 45 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 248,020
females age 16-49:
243,468 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 195,414
females age 16-49:
206,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,131
female:
8,776 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2009)
Transnational Issues ::Fiji
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Fiji
is a source country for children trafficked for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation and a destination country for a small
number of women from China and India trafficked for the purposes of
forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating:
Tier
3 - Fiji does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do
so; the government has demonstrated no action to investigate or
prosecute traffickers, assist victims, take steps to reduce the demand
for commercial sex acts, or support any anti-trafficking information or
education campaigns; Fiji has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol
(2009)
)