from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Fiji
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic 18 00 S, 175 00 E
coordinates:
Map Oceania
references:
Area: total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than New Jersey
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
claims: 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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential,
resources: hydropower
Land use: arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (2005)
Irrigated 30 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
hazards:
Environment - deforestation; soil erosion
current
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
note:
People
Population: 905,949 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.1% (male 143,847/female 138,061)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 293,072/female 292,312)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 17,583/female 21,074)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 24.6 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)
Population 1.4% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 22.55 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 69.82 years
expectancy at male: 67.32 years
birth: female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 600 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups: Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian
admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)
Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu
38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu,
and there is a Muslim minority
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
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 republic
type:
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 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern,
divisions: Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
National Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
holiday:
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 chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU
branch: Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE
(since 10 September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from
among the members of Parliament and is responsible to
Parliament
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 (next to be held in
2011)
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda
elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs;
percent of vote - NA
Legislative bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats;
branch: 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 25
August through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next
to be held 6-13 May 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - SDL 27.5%, FLP 26.5%, MV 4.2%, NLUP
1.3%, NFP 1.2%, independents 1.4%, UGP .3%; seats by
party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NLUP 2, NFP 1,
independents 2, UGP 1
Judicial Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president);
branch: Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or CAMV
parties and [Ratu Josefa DIMURI]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT
leaders: [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 General
Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
organization ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
participation: Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Jesoni VITUSAGAVULU
representation chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240,
in the US: Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER
representation embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
from the US: mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081
Flag light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
description: 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
Economy - Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources,
overview: 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. Long-term problems include low investment,
uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's
ability to manage its budget. Yet, because of a tourist
boom, short-run economic prospects are good, provided
tensions do not again erupt between indigenous Fijians
and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances from Fijians
working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased
significantly.
GDP $5.255 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $2.81 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 1.7% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $5,900 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 8.9%
composition by industry: 13.5%
sector: services: 77.6% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 137,000 (1999)
Labor force - agriculture: 70%
by occupation: industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
Unemployment 7.6% (1999)
rate:
Population 25.5% (1990-91)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 3% (2005)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $720.5 million
expenditures: $728.3 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Agriculture - sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet
products: potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber,
small cottage industries
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 775.7 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 18.5%
production by hydro: 81.5%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 721.4 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 10,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-465.8 million
account
balance:
Exports: $719.6 million f.o.b. (2005)
Exports - sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut
commodities: oil
Exports - US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa
partners: 4.1% (2005)
Imports: $1.462 billion c.i.f. (2005)
Imports - manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
commodities: petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - Singapore 27.4%, Australia 23.6%, NZ 18.9%, Thailand
partners: 4.5% (2005)
Debt - $127 million (2004 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $63.9 million (2004)
recipient:
Currency Fijian dollar (FJD)
(code):
Currency code: FJD
Exchange Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.691 (2005), 1.7331
rates: (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 102,000 (2003)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 142,200 (2004)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modern local, interisland, and
system: international (wire/radio integrated) public and
special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter
facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic: NA
international: country code - 679; access to important
cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ
and Australia; 2 satellite earth stations - 2 INMARSAT
(Pacific Ocean)
Radio AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 541,476 (1999)
Television NA
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 88,110 (1999)
Internet .fj
country code:
Internet 8,987 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 61,000 (2004)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 28 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 25
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 7
runways: under 914 m: 18 (2006)
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) (2005)
Roadways: total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999)
Waterways: 203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
200-metric-ton barges (2004)
Merchant total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,867 GRT/8,432 DWT
marine: by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll
off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2006)
Ports and Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva
terminals:
Military
Military Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces,
branches: Naval Forces (2006)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 215,104
available for females age 18-49: 212,739 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 163,960
for military females age 18-49: 178,714 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 9,266
reaching females age 18-49: 8,916 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $36 million (2004)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 2.2% (FY02)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - none
international: