2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Age structure

0-14 years: 32% (male 141,979; female 136,378) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 278,759; female 278,150) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 15,329; female 17,936) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Airports

27 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

24 914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m

18 (2002) Military Fiji

Area

land

18,270 sq km

total

18,270 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

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). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a 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 and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Geography Fiji

Birth rate

23.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$427.9 million

Capital

Suva

Climate

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

1,129 km

Constitution

promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of the Fiji Islands

conventional short form

Fiji

Currency

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code

FJD

Death rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$135.9 million (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David L. LYON

embassy

31 Loftus Street, Suva

mailing address

P. O. Box 218, Suva

telephone

[679] 331-4466

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Anare JALE

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$40.3 million (1995)

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 and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget.

Electricity - consumption

483.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

520.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

18.5%

hydro

81.5%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tomanivi 1,324 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Exchange rates

Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.19 (2002), 2.28 (2001), 2.13 (2000), 1.97 (1999), 1.99 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system

chief of state

President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA 2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)

election results

Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%

elections

president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000)

Exports

$442 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports - partners

US 25.1%, Australia 19.5%, UK 10.6%, Japan 6.3%, Samoa 5.5% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 337-1996

[679] 330-0081

chancery

2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007

telephone

[1] (202) 337-8320

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Fiji

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.822 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

17%

industry

25%

services

58% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Geography - note

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited People Fiji

Government type

republic

note

military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Highways

paved

1,692 km

total

3,440 km

unpaved

1,748 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

300 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$642 million c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

Australia 37.3%, New Zealand 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Japan 4.2%, China 4% (2002)

Independence

10 October 1970 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Infant mortality rate

female

11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

14.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.fj

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

15,000 (2002) Transportation Fiji

Irrigated land

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Labor force

137,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

10.95%

other

84.4% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

4.65%

Languages

English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Legal system

based on British system

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%, other 16.5%; seats by party - NA

elections

House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1 September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.44 years (2003 est.)

male

66.43 years

total population

68.88 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.9% (2003 est.) Government Fiji

male

95.5%

total population

93.7%

Location

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

24.2 years (2002)

male

23.3 years

total

23.7 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Australia 1, Singapore 4 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1

total

6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT

Military branches

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces, naval division

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$39.21 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2% (FY02) Transnational Issues Fiji

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

235,546 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

129,432 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

9,359 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Nationality

adjective

Fijian

noun

Fijian(s)

Natural hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources

timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Net migration rate

-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

868,531 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.5% (1990-91)

Population growth rate

1.41% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

541,476 (1999)

Railways

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 September) (2002)

total

597 km

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 (1986)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center

international

access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

80,901 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5,200 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

88,110 (1999)

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Total fertility rate

2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (1999)

Waterways

203 km

note

122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges