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Introduction | Fiji

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 | 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: 18,270 sq km land: 18,270 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: | tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: | mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources: | timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 10.95% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.4% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: | 28.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%) per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)
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 | Fiji

Population: | 931,741 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 30.6% (male 145,430/female 139,498) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 302,460/female 301,344) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 19,413/female 23,596) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 25.2 years male: 24.7 years female: 25.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 1.388% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 22.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | -2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 70.44 years male: 67.9 years female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 2.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer 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)
Religions: | 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)
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.)

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)
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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: | NA
International organization participation: | ACP, ADB, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: vacant; note - Penijamini R. LOMALOMA (Charge d'Affaires) 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

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. The coup has created a difficult business climate. Tourist arrivals for 2007 are estimated to be down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector. In July 2007 the Reserve Bank of Fiji announced the economy was expected to contract by 3.1% in 2007. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $5.079 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $4.969 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 3.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $5,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 8.9% industry: 13.5% services: 77.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force: | 117,500 (2006 est.)
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: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 4.8% (2007)
Budget: | revenues: $1.363 billion expenditures: $1.376 billion (2006)
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
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | 1.046 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 18.5% hydro: 81.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 735.6 million kWh (2006)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 9,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: | 2,268 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 10,870 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | -$507 million (2006 est.)
Exports: | $1.202 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities: | sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners: | US 16.8%, Australia 13.9%, UK 13.5%, Japan 5.3%, Samoa 4.7%, Tonga 4.1% (2006)
Imports: | $3.12 billion c.i.f. (2006)
Imports - commodities: | manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: | Singapore 28.8%, Australia 23.3%, NZ 16.8%, China 4.7% (2006)
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)
Currency code: | FJD
Exchange rates: | Fijian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Fiji

Telephones - main lines in use: | 112,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 205,000 (2005)
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)
Radios: | 541,476 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: | NA
Televisions: | 88,110 (1999)
Internet country code: | .fj
Internet hosts: | 12,137 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)
Internet users: | 80,000 (2006)

Transportation | Fiji

Airports: | 28 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 18 (2007)
Railways: | total: 597 km 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)
Roadways: | total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (2000)
Waterways: | 203 km note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2006)
Merchant marine: | total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 17,376 GRT/8,788 DWT by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals: | Lautoka, Suva

Military | Fiji

Military branches: | Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2008)
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: 242,567 females age 16-49: 238,556 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 189,282 females age 16-49: 202,350 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | males age 16-49: 9,077 females age 16-49: 8,728 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.2% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues | Fiji

Disputes - international: | none
Trafficking in persons: | current situation: tier rating: Tier 3 -

This page was last updated on 19 June, 2008