2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

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.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

25 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m

18 (2006)

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). 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

Birth rate

22.55 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$728.3 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005)

revenues

$720.5 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

18 08 S, 178 25 E

name

Suva (on Viti Levu)

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

1,129 km

Constitution

enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

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

Currency (code)

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code

FJD

Current account balance

$-465.8 million

Death rate

5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$127 million (2004 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Jesoni VITUSAGAVULU

telephone

[1] (202) 337-8320

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - recipient

$63.9 million (2004)

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 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. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.

Electricity - consumption

759.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

817 million kWh (2004)

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, Wetlands

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 - 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002)

Executive branch

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

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

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 (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006

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

Exports

$719.6 million f.o.b. (2005)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 337-1996

[679] 330-0081

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

8.9%

industry

13.5%

services

77.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.038 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.504 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Geography - note

includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited People Fiji

Government type

republic

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.462 billion c.i.f. (2005)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Singapore 27.5%, Australia 23.7%, NZ 19%, Thailand 4.5% (2005)

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

10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

13.63 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2005)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.fj

Internet hosts

8,987 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

61,000 (2004) Transportation Fiji

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

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

70%

industry and services

30% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

10.95%

other

84.4% (2005)

permanent crops

4.65%

Languages

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Legal system

based on British system

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)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 44.59%, FLP 39.18%, UPP .84%, independents 4.89%; seats by party - SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2

elections

House of Representatives - last held 6-13 May 2006 (next to be held 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.45 years (2006 est.)

male

67.32 years

total population

69.82 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

females age 18-49

212,739 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

215,104

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

178,714 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

163,960

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

8,916 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

9,266

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

25 years (2006 est.)

male

24.1 years

total

24.6 years

Merchant marine

by type

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

foreign-owned

1 (Australia 1) (2006)

total

7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,867 GRT/8,432 DWT

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 gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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

Population

905,949 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.5% (1990-91)

Population growth rate

1.4% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva Military Fiji

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) (2005)

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

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF)

Land Forces, Naval Forces (2006)

Roadways

paved

1,692 km

total

3,440 km

unpaved

1,748 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 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

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

102,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

142,200 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

88,110 (1999)

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Total fertility rate

2.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (1999)

Waterways

203 km

note

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