1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Geography
Area
18,272 km2; consists of more than 300 islands and many more coral atolls and cays; the larger islands, Viti Levu, Taveuni, and Kadavu are all mountainous and volcanic in origin, with peaks rising over 1,210 meters; landownership—83.6% Fijians, 1.7% Indians, 6.4% government, 7.2% European, 1.1% other; about 30% of land area is suitable for farming WATER
Coastline
1,129 km
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
(economic zone 200 nm)
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
50% Indian, 44% Fijian, 6% European, Chinese, and others
Labor force
176,000 (1979); 43.8% agriculture, 15.6% industry
Language
English and Fijian (official), Hindustani spoken among Indians
Literacy
over 80%
Nationality
noun—Fijian(s); adjective—Fijian
Organized labor
about 50% of labor force organized into 22 unions; unions organized along lines of work, breakdown by ethnic origin causes further fragmentation
Population
654,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.8%
Religion
Fijians mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu with a Muslim minority
Government
Branches
executive—Prime Minister; legislative—52-member House of Representatives (Alliance Party 36 seats, National Federation Party 15 seats, 1 independent); 22-member appointed Senate; judicial—Supreme Court
Capital
Suva located on the south coast of the island of Viti Levu Political subdivisions: 14 provinces
Communists
few, no figures available
Elections
every five years unless House dissolves earlier, last held September 1977
Government leader
Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA
Legal system
based on British
Member of
ADB, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, EEC (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ISO, ITU, UN, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
National holiday
10 October
Official name
Fiji
Political parties
Alliance, primarily Fijian, headed by Ratu Mara; National Federation, primarily Indian, headed by Jai Ram Reddy
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
independent parliamentary state within Commonwealth; Elizabeth II recognized as chief of state
Economy
Agriculture
main crops—sugar, coconut products, bananas, ginger, rice; major deficiency, grains
Aid
disbursed 1978—UK, Australia, and New Zealand, $42.3 million
Budget
(FY80) outlays $280 million (current prices)
Electric power
117,000 kW capacity (1981); 351 million kWh produced (1981), 550 kWh per capita
Exports
$258.0 million (f.o.b., 1979, including reexports totaling $56.9 million); 57.8% sugar, 5.4% coconut oil
Fiscal year
calendar year
GNP
$811 million (1979), $1,300 per capita; 6% real growth rate (1979)
Imports
$471.4 million (c.i.f., 1979); 23.0% machinery, fuels, chemicals, 19.0% manufactured goods, 18.4% petroleum, 17.0% food
Major industries
sugar processing, tourism
Major trade partners
UK, New Zealand, US, Canada, Australia, Japan
Monetary conversion rate
Fijian dollar=US$1.2 (1979)
Communications
Airfields
15 total, 15 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways, 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 DC-3 and 1 light aircraft
Highways
2,960 km total (1981); 390 km paved, 2,150 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth
Inland waterways
203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric ton barges
Ports
1 major, 6 minor
Railroads
644 km narrow gauge (0.610 m); owned by Fiji Sugar Corp., Ltd.
Telecommunications
modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable link between US/Canada and New Zealand/Australia, et al.; 37,515 telephones (6.0 per 100 popl.); 7 AM and 2 FM stations; no TV stations; 1 ground satellite station
Military and Security
Military budget
the defense of the Fiji Islands was the responsibility of the UK until 10 October 1970; military budget for 1979, $11.1 million; 4% of central government budget
Military manpower
males 15-49, 169,000; 95,000 fit for military service; 7,000 reach military age (18) annually