FLAG: The national flag of Fiji consists of the red, white, and blue Union Jack in the upper left corner of a light blue field, with the Fiji shield centered on the right side.

ANTHEM: God Bless Fiji.

MONETARY UNIT: The Fiji dollar (f$) of 100 cents is the national currency. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, and notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 Fiji dollars. f$1 = us$0.57700 (or us$1 = f$1.7331) as of 2004.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is official, but some British weights and measures are still in use.

HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; Constitution Day, 24 July; Independence Day, 10 October; Christmas Day, 25 December; Boxing Day, 26 December. Movable religious holidays include Good Friday, Easter Monday, Dewali, and Milad an-Nabi.

TIME: 12 midnight = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

Fiji, located in the South Pacific, is made up of some 850 islands, of which only about 100 are inhabited. The island of Rotuma is geographically separate from the others and has an area of 44 square kilometers (17 square miles). Rotuma lies about 570 kilometers (350 miles) northnortheast. The nation’s total area is 18,270 square kilometers (7,054 square miles), slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. Fiji’s coastline is 1,129 kilometers (702 miles) long. Its capital city, Suva, is located on the island of Viti Levu.

2 Topography

The larger Fiji islands are volcanic, with rugged peaks and flatland, where rivers have built deltas. Coral reefs surround the islands. Viti Levu’s highest point, Tomanivi, is 1,324 meters (4,343 feet). About 28 other peaks are over 910 meters (3,000 feet). The lowest point is at sea level (Pacific Ocean). The main river, the Rewa, is about 150 kilometers (95 miles) long, but only navigable by small boats for 113 kilometers (70 miles).

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 18,270 sq km (7,054 sq mi)

Size ranking: 151 of 194

Highest elevation: 1,324 meters (4,343 feet) at Tomanivi

Lowest elevation: Sea level at the Pacific Ocean

Land Use*

Arable land: 11%

Permanent crops: 5%

Other: 84%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: (Suva): 312 centimeters (123 inches)

Average temperature in January: (Suva): 23–30°c (73–86°f)

Average temperature in July: (Suva): 20–26°c (68–79°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

3 Climate

Temperatures at sea level range from 20 to 29°c (68 to 85°F). Annual rainfall averages 312 centimeters (123 inches) in Suva. At sea level there are well-defined wet and dry seasons, with a mean annual average of 178 centimeters (70 inches) of rain. The cyclone season, from November to April, brings storms that generally cause extensive property damage and loss of crops as well as numerous deaths.

4 Plants and Animals

The larger islands have forests on the windward side and grassland on the slopes protected from the wind. Mangroves and coconut plantations rim the coasts. Among native animals are bats, rats, snakes, frogs, lizards, and many species of birds.

5 Environment

The main challenges to the environment in Fiji are loss of forests, soil erosion, and pollution. The rainfall pattern, the location of agricultural areas, and inadequate agricultural methods contribute to the loss of valuable soils. Fiji is also concerned about rising sea levels attributed to global warming, which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels in the industrial world. The land and water supplies are polluted by pesticides and chemicals used in the sugar and fish-processing industries.

As of 2006, threatened species included 5 types of mammals, 13 species of birds, 6 types of reptiles, 1 species of amphibian, 8 species of fish, 2 types of mollusks, and 66 species of plants. Threatened species include the Fiji banded iguana and crested iguana, the Fiji petrel, the insular flying-fox, and the Samoan flying-fox. The bar-winged rail has become extinct.

6 Population

Fiji’s population in 2005 was estimated at 842,000. The population is projected to be 939,000 in 2025. The population density is estimated at 46 persons per square kilometer (119 per square mile). Suva, the capital, had a population of 210,000 in 2005.

7 Migration

There has been a steady flow of people from rural to urban areas. There was a substantial increase in emigration by Indians in the immediate aftermath of the military takeover of May 1987. Most of the 40,000 people who have left since 1987 are Indo-Fijians (of Indian origin). In 2005 the estimated net migration rate was -3.04 migrants per 1,000 population.

8 Ethnic Groups

The native Fijian population is mostly Melanesian, intermingled with Polynesian. The population was estimated to be 54% Fijian and 40% Indian. European, other Pacific Islanders, and overseas Chinese are the minorities.

9 Languages

English is the official language, but Fijian and Hindi also are used in parliament. Fijian dialects belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language group. The Bau dialect is used throughout the islands except on Rotuma, where Rotuman is spoken. Hindustani (a local dialect of Hindi) is the common language of the Indians of Fiji.

10 Religions

About 52% of Fijians are Christians, primarily Methodist (37%) and Roman Catholic (9%). Among Indian Fijians, 33% are Hindu, 7% Muslim (Sunni). Confucianism is practiced by a portion of the Chinese community. The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government reportedly respects this right in practice.

11 Transportation

As of 2002 Fiji had 3,440 kilometers (2,138 miles) of main roads, of which 1,692 kilometers (1,051 miles) were paved. Registered vehicles numbered 128,350 in 2003, of which 76,000 were passenger cars and 52,350 commercial vehicles. A private rail system of about 597 kilometers (371 miles) serves most of the sugar-producing areas. Major ports are Suva, Lautoka, and Levuka. An international airport at Nadi serves regularly scheduled flights to neighboring Pacific islands, Australia, and New Zealand via Air Pacific.

12 History

Fiji was settled by Polynesian and Melanesian peoples at least 2,500 years ago. Early European explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries were followed by traders, army deserters, shipwreck survivors, and missionaries in the 19th century. On 10 October 1874, Fiji was proclaimed a possession and dependency of the British crown.

From 1870 to 1916, nearly 50,000 Indian contract laborers arrived to work on European-owned sugar plantations. By 1920 they had settled as free farmers. On 10 October 1970, Fiji became a sovereign and independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations, with Kamisese K. T. Mara, head of the Alliance Party, as prime minister. He and his majority party won elections in 1972, 1977, and 1982, but lost the April 1987 elections to an Indian-based coalition. Within a year, Lieutenant Colonel Sitivendi Rabuka led two military takeovers aimed at restoring political leadership to ethnic Fijians. He suspended the constitution, dissolved the parliament, and declared Fiji a republic. Full civilian rule returned in January 1990, when Rabuka gave up his position as minister of home affairs and became head of the armed forces.

The adoption in 1990 of a new constitution that favored rural Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration and caused serious economic difficulties. In 1996 the Constitutional Review Commission recommended the abolition of racial preferences in government.

On 19 May 2000, George Speight, a failed businessman and son of Sam Speight, an opposition member of parliament, took parliament by show of force. They held Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and most of his multiracial cabinet hostage for 56 days. In exchange for the hostages’ release, the military—which imposed martial law during the crisis—agreed to replace Chaudhry’s government, grant an amnesty to the rebels taking part in the coup, and to abolish Fiji’s multiracial constitution. The coup resulted in widespread civil unrest and attacks against ethnic Indians, and caused a drop of 41% in tourism. Speight and 369 of his supporters were arrested in July 2000, and the military installed ethnic Fijian Laisenia Qarase as prime minister in a caretaker government. He was charged with organizing Fiji’s next general election and drawing up a new constitution. Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs appointed Ratu Josefa Iloilo, a former father-in-law of Speight’s brother, president.

As of January 2003 more than 14,000 ethnic Indians had left the country since the May 2000 coup, mainly professionals and skilled workers. In May 2005, Prime Minister Qarase sought to heal the wounds left by the coup with proposed legislation for reconciliation, tolerance, and national unity. Qarase was ousted in a coup himself in December 2006.

13 Government

A new constitution went into effect in July 1990. It established Fiji as a sovereign, democratic republic with a two-chamber legislature. Fiji’s president was to be appointed to a five-year term by the Great Council of Chiefs, which would also nominate 24 Fijians to the 34-member Senate. The 70-member House of Representatives was to be elected by the people every five years.

Under the 1997 constitution, the president must be a native Fijian. The House of Representatives now has 71 members, and the Senate has 32 members. Fiji is divided into 14 provinces, each with its own council.

In the 1999 election, the leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, became the first Indian prime minister of Fiji. The president, backed by the military, replaced the prime minister in May 2000, setting in motion a period of turmoil in the government. In May 2001, Laisenia Qarase was elected prime minister. Qarase was reelected in May 2006, but was ousted in a coup in December that year.

14 Political Parties

Major political parties include the Fijian Political Party (SVT—primarily Fijian); the National Federation Party (NFP—primarily Indian); the Fijian Nationalist Party (FNP); the Fiji Labour

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Laisenia Qarase

Position: Prime minister of a republic

Took Office: May 2001, reelected May 2006 but ousted in a December 2006 coup

Birthplace: Suva, Fiji

Birthdate: 4 February 1941

Religion: Christian

Education: Received a degree in commerce from the University of Auckland in New Zealand

Spouse: Leba Qarase

Children: Five children

Of interest: Was a merchant banker prior to assuming role as prime minster.

Party (FLP); All National Congress (ANC); the United Peoples Party (UPP); and the General Voters Party (GVP). In June 2001 Laisenia Qarase formed a new party, Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL). After the May 2006 parliamentary elections, the NFP, which had been the dominant Indian party for nearly 40 years, was entirely eliminated, as was the SVT. The SDL won 36 seats, the FLP 31, the UPP 2, and independents 2.

15 Judicial System

The 1990 constitution reorganized the judicial system. The courts include the Magistrate Courts, a High Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. There are no special courts, and the military courts try only members of the armed forces.

16 Armed Forces

Fiji’s active armed forces in 2005 numbered 3,500 backed up by some 6,000 reserves. The army totaled 3,200 with 300 in the navy. Fiji spent $32.9 million in 2005 on defense.

17 Economy

Fiji’s economy is mostly based on agriculture and tourism, and is heavily dependent on foreign trade. From 1987 to 1996 the economy grew at an average annual rate of 2.5%. Amid high political tensions the GDP increased only 1% in 2001, due mainly to some recovery in tourism. The economy grew at a rate of 4.5% in 2002, 5.2% in 2003, but then began a period of contraction due to political unrest. In 2004, the growth rate declined, but still reached 3.6%, but by 2005 had fallen below 2%.

18 Income

Fiji’s GDP was estimated at $5.4 billion in 2005, or $6,000 per person. The average inflation rate in 2005 was around 3%.

19 Industry

Fiji’s industry is based primarily on the processing of agricultural products, mainly sugarcane and coconut, and on the mining and processing of minerals. Garment manufacturing is also important. Expensive power, the lack of trained labor, and the limited local market inhibit industrial production. Sugar processing accounts for one-third of all industrial activity.

20 Labor

Fiji has a labor force of 137,000 persons. Subsistence agriculture and farming accounted for an estimated 70% of the workforce in 2001. The unemployment rate is about 7.6%. The law protects the right of workers to unionize with some restrictions. About 36% of the paid workforce was unionized as of 2005.

By law, children under 12 may not work except in a family-owned business or agricultural enterprise. Children between 12 and 15 may work in certain occupations, but none may involve machinery. Children between 15 and 17 cannot be employed in jobs where heavy machinery is used and they must also receive specified hours and rest breaks. The enforcement of child labor regulations is not effective, however. There is no national minimum wage.

Yearly Growth Rate

This economic indicator tells by what percent the economy has increased or decreased when compared with the previous year.

21 Agriculture

In 2004 agriculture accounted for about 31% of Fiji’s export earnings. More than 75% of all households engage in agriculture, livestock production, forestry, or fishing. Over 15.6% of Fiji’s total land area is used for crop production.

Sugarcane production was at three million tons in 2004. In 2001 sugar exports accounted for about 15% ($103 million) of total exports and 48% of all agricultural exports. Cane is processed into raw sugar and molasses by the Fiji Sugar Corporation, which is 68% owned by the government. The sugar industry is vital to the national economy; as such, the government

Components of the Economy

This pie chart shows how much of the country’s economy is devoted to agriculture (including forestry, hunting, and fishing), industry, or services.

plays a leading role in all aspects of its production and sale.

Other products in 2004 included 140,000 tons of coconuts. The paddy rice output was 15,000 tons. Corn, tobacco, cocoa, ginger, pineapples, bananas, watermelons, and other fruits and vegetables are also grown.

22 Domesticated Animals

In 2005 meat production included 8,400 tons of beef, 3,900 tons of pork, and 1,000 tons of goat meat. A breed of sheep highly adapted to the tropics was introduced in 1980. Fiji’s poultry production was 13,000 tons in 2005, and egg production was 2,700 tons that same year.

23 Fishing

The fishing industry has expanded in recent years, and a new cannery has increased tuna exports. The fish catch in 2003 was 35,963 tons, 30% of which was tuna. Barracuda, snapper, grouper, mackerel, and mullet are other principal species caught. Fish farms produce carp, prawns, oysters, eels, and mussels. In 2003 prepared and preserved fish exports were valued at $45 million.

Yearly Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the difference between what a country sells to other countries (its exports) and what it buys (its imports). If a country imports more than it exports, it has a negative balance of trade (a trade deficit). If exports exceed imports there is a positive balance of trade (a trade surplus).

24 Forestry

About 45% of the land area is forested, and 253,000 hectares (625,000 acres) are suitable for commercial use. Output of logs in 2003 totaled 303,000 cubic meters (13,520,000 cubic feet). Exports of sawn timber and other wood products were valued at $20.6 million.

25 Mining

The mining sector of Fiji is centered on gold. Production of gold in 2003 totaled about 3,250 kilograms (7,165 pounds). Silver was also produced in 2003. Hydraulic cement production

Selected Social Indicators

The statistics below are the most recent estimates available as of 2006. For comparison purposes, data for the United States and averages for low-income countries and high-income countries are also given. About 15% of the world’s 6.5 billion people live in high-income countries, while 37% live in low-income countries.

Indicator	Fiji	Low-income countries	High-income countries	United States
sources: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2006; Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2006; World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Per capita gross national income (GNI)*	$5,750	$2,258	$31,009	$39,820
Population growth rate	1.4%	2%	0.8%	1.2%
People per square kilometer of land	46	80	30	32
Life expectancy in years: male	67	58	76	75
female	72	60	82	80
Number of physicians per 1,000 people	0.3	0.4	3.7	2.3
Number of pupils per teacher (primary school)	n.a.	43	16	15
Literacy rate (15 years and older)	93.7%	65%	>95%	99%
Television sets per 1,000 people	118	84	735	938
Internet users per 1,000 people	72	28	538	630
Energy consumed per capita (kg of oil equivalent)	n.a.	501	5,410	7,843
CO² emissions per capita (metric tons)	1.69	0.85	12.97	19.92
* The GNI is the total of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a year. The per capita GNI is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its population and adjusting for relative purchasing power.
n.a.: data not available >: greater than <: less than

was 100,000 tons in 2003. The same year, Fiji also produced crushed and dimension stone, sand and gravel, and sand for cement manufacture. About 930 million tons of copper and gold reserves have been reported, and prospecting continues for oil and phosphates.

26 Foreign Trade

Clothing production dominates Fiji’s export commodities, with over a third of export revenues tied to the apparel trade. Sugar and honey are in second place in export sales. Other exports include fish and gold. Imports include industrial supplies, food, fuels, consumer goods, machinery, and transportation equipment. Most of Fiji’s exports go to Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Other trade partners include the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

27 Energy and Power

The Monasavu hydroelectric project was completed in 1984. Exploration for oil and natural gas has taken place, but has been unsuccessful. Energy output in 2002 was 750 million kilowatt hours, of which 605 million kilowatt hours came from hydroelectric power.

28 Social Development

Employed workers are eligible for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Retirement is set at age 55, but is available at any age upon leaving the country permanently. Employers also pay for workmen’s compensation. Most Fijian women fulfill traditional roles. Women are generally paid less than men for comparable work. The government has promoted the rights of ethnic Fijians over those of other ethnic groups.

29 Health

Fiji’s health standards are relatively high. Medical facilities total twenty-seven hospitals, including three main hospitals and three specialized hospitals. In 2004, there were 34 physicians, 196 nurses, and 4 dentists per 100,000 people.

Cardiovascular disease and cancer have become the top two causes of death in hospitals during the last few years. The increasing mortality has been attributed to hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, once relatively unknown in the Fijian community, increased tenfold among Fijian urban dwellers between 1967 and 1980. A cancer survey conducted in 1989 showed extremely high dietary intakes of fat and cholesterol.

In 2005 the infant mortality rate was estimated at 12.62 per 1,000 live births and estimated average life expectancy was 69.53 years. Venereal diseases have increased in recent years, and infantile diarrhea persists. In 2004, approximately 600 people were living with HIV/AIDS.

30 Housing

Houses are made of corrugated iron or tin, concrete, or wood, in approximately equal percentages. Fiji requires more than 4,200 new houses each year to maintain adequate housing standards. Natural disasters, such as cyclones and tropical storms, have caused problems in creating and maintaining adequate housing stock.

31 Education

There are government schools as well as private schools operated by individual groups or by missions under government supervision. Ninety-nine percent of primary-school age children enroll in school. Primary education lasts for eight years, followed by four years of junior secondary and two years of senior secondary school. Students may choose a final year of study known as seventh form, the completion of which is required for continuing in higher education. The student-to-teacher ratio for secondary schools in 2003 was about 17 to 1.

The University of the South Pacific opened in Suva in 1968. Its students come from several Pacific island states. In 2001, there were approximately 115,000 students enrolled in higher education programs. The adult literacy rate in 2004 was estimated at about 93.7%, with 94.5% for men and 91.4% for women.

32 Media

In 2003, were about 102,000 mainline telephones and about 109,900 cellular phones in use nationwide.

The Fiji Broadcasting Commission offers programs in Fijian, English, and Hindustani over Radio Fiji on three channels. There are 13 AM and 40 FM radio stations. As of 2001 there is one television broadcast station, Fiji One TV, which is owned by private and government interests. In 2006, there were an estimated 72 Internet users for every 1,000 people.

The two daily newspapers, both published at Suva, are the English-language Fiji Times (with an estimated circulation of 34,000 in 2002) and Fiji Daily Post (9,000).

Freedom of speech and press are said to be generally respected by the government.

33 Tourism and Recreation

In 2000 there were 294,070 tourist arrivals, nearly 60% from East Asia and the Pacific region. That year gross receipts from tourism amounted to us$537 million. There were 6,142 rooms in hotels and other establishments with 14,292 beds.

Popular tourist attractions are the beach resorts and traditional Fijian villages. Spectator sports include soccer, cricket, rugby, and basketball. Fiji has excellent golf facilities.

34 Famous Fijians

Well-known Fijians include Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (d.1958), the first speaker of the Legislative Council in 1954; and Ratu Sir Kamisese K. T. Mara (1920–2004), who served as both prime minister and president. Ratu Sir George Cakobau (1911–1989) was the first Fijian to be governor-general. Vijay Singh (1963–) is a championship-winning professional golfer.