2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.4% (male 143,066/female 137,346) 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 288,434/female 287,720) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 16,797/female 19,991) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

28 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

25 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.) 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

22.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$427.9 million

Capital

Suva (Viti Levu)

Climate

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

1,129 km

Constitution

promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of the Fiji Islands

conventional short form

Fiji

Currency (code)

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code

FJD

Death rate

5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$188.1 million (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David L. LYON

embassy

31 Loftus Street, Suva

FAX

[679] 330-0081

mailing address

P. O. Box 218, Suva

telephone

[679] 331-4466

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Mr. Paula NAVUNISARAVI (Charge D'Affaires ad Interim)

FAX

[1] (202) 337-1996

telephone

[1] (202) 337-8320

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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, but is inefficient. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Yet 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.

Electricity - consumption

697.5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

750 million kWh (2002)

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, 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 - 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000)

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 18 July 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

$609 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 24%, Australia 19%, UK 12.6%, Samoa 6.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

16.6%

industry

22.4%

services

61% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.173 billion (2004 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% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

600 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$835 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 25.9%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 21.1% (2004)

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

11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

13.97 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.62 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.fj

Internet hosts

493 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

55,000 (2003) 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% (2001)

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 President on the advice of 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 26.5%, SDL 27.5%, NFP 1.2%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, UGP .3%, independents 1.4%; seats by party - FLP 27, SDL 32, MV 6, NFP 1, NLUP 2, UGP 1, independents 2

elections

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.14 years (2005 est.)

male

67.05 years

total population

69.53 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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 215,104 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 163,960 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

9,266 (2005 est.)

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic straight 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

24.74 years (2005 est.)

male

23.84 years

total

24.28 years

Merchant marine

by type

passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned

1 (Australia 1) (2005)

total

7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,372 GRT/7,453 DWT

Military branches

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF)

Land Forces, Naval Division (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$36 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2% (FY02) Transnational Issues Fiji

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

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

-3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

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

893,354 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.5% (1990-91)

Population growth rate

1.4% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva

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 December) (2003)

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 under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

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

country code - 679; 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

102,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

109,900 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

88,110 (1999)

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Total fertility rate

2.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (1999)

Waterways

203 km note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2004)