World Facts Index
 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 of Fiji
|
Location:
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Oceania, island group in
the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand |
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Coordinates:
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18 00 S, 175 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly smaller than New
Jersey |
|
Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,129 km |
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed
archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; only
slight seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains of
volcanic origin |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, fish, gold, copper,
offshore oil potential, hydropower |
|
Natural hazards:
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cyclonic storms can occur
from November to January |
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Environment current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion |
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Geography - note:
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includes 332 islands of
which approximately 110 are inhabited
|
Population of Fiji
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Population:
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931,741 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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24.6 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.4% |
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Infant mortality:
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12.3 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 72.45 years |
|
Fertility rate:
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2.73 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian |
|
Ethnic groups:
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Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a
Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese,
and other 5% (1998 est.) |
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Religions:
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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 |
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Languages:
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English (official), Fijian, Hindustani |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
the Fiji Islands |
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Government type:
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republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a
republic on 6 October 1987 |
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Capital:
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Suva (Viti Levu) |
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Administrative divisions:
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4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western |
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Independence:
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10 October 1970 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, second Monday of October
(1970) |
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Constitution:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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based on British system |
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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
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
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 |
|
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) |
|
Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the
president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts |
Economy
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 400,000 to 500,000 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 December 2006 coup
and is facing an uncertain recovery time. The coup has created a difficult
business climate. Tourist arrivals for 2007 are estimated to be down almost
6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector. In July 2007 the
Reserve Bank of Fiji announced the economy was expected to contract by 3.1% in
2007. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006. The EU has
suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new
elections. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership
rights, and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas
remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased
significantly.
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GDP:
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$5.079 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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1.7% |
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GDP per capita:
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$6,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 22.4%
services: 61% |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture, including subsistence
agriculture 70% |
|
Budget:
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revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 18.5%
hydro: 81.5%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0% |
|
Industries:
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tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold,
silver, lumber, small cottage industries |
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Agriculture:
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sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca),
rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish |
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Exports:
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sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish,
molasses, coconut oil |
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Export partners:
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US 18.7%, Australia 17.6%, UK 12%, Samoa 7.3%, Japan 4.9% |
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Imports:
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manufactured goods, machinery and transport
equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals |
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Import partners:
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Singapore 26.9%, Australia 23.1%, NZ 19.6%, Thailand 4.4% |
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Currency:
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Fijian dollar (FJD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |