Introduction :: FIJI
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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 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Reelected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Following years of political turmoil, long-delayed legislative elections were held in September 2014 that were deemed "credible" by international observers and that resulted in BAINIMARAMA being reelected.
Geography :: FIJI
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Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Oceania
total: 18,274 sq km
land: 18,274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 157
slightly smaller than New Jersey
0 km
1,129 km
measured from claimed archipelagic straight 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
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
agricultural land: 23.3%
arable land 9%; permanent crops 4.7%; permanent pasture 9.6%
forest: 55.7%
other: 21% (2011 est.)
40 sq km (2012)
28.55 cu km (2011)
total: 0.08 cu km/yr (30%/11%/59%)
per capita: 100.1 cu m/yr (2005)
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
deforestation; soil erosion
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
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
People and Society :: FIJI
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noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese)
note: a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTuakei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji (2007 est.)
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
909,389 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0-14 years: 28.03% (male 130,251/female 124,633)
15-24 years: 16.73% (male 77,716/female 74,449)
25-54 years: 41.12% (male 191,393/female 182,571)
55-64 years: 8.04% (male 37,019/female 36,141)
65 years and over: 6.07% (male 25,386/female 29,830) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 52.8%
youth dependency ratio: 43.9%
elderly dependency ratio: 8.9%
potential support ratio: 11.2% (2015 est.)
total: 28.2 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.4 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0.67% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
19.43 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
-6.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
urban population: 53.7% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
SUVA (capital) 176,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
30 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
total: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
total population: 72.43 years
male: 69.79 years
female: 75.2 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
2.47 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
4.1% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 160
0.43 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
2 beds/1,000 population (2009)
improved:
urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 91.2% of population
total: 95.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 8.8% of population
total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 93.4% of population
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 91.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6.6% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 8.9% of population (2015 est.)
0.13% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
700 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
fewer than 100 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
35.9% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 25
4.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 102
total: 25.4%
male: 14.8%
female: 18.7% (2007 est.)
Government :: FIJI
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conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
conventional short form: Fiji
local long form: Republic of Fiji/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form: Fiji/Viti
etymology: the Fijians called their home Viti, but the neighboring Tongans called it Fisi, and in the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation - promulgated by explorer Captain James COOK - the designation became Fiji
parliamentary republic
name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in January
14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
Fiji Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
several previous; latest signed into law September 2013 (2016)
common law system based on the English model
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Jioji Konousi KONROTE (since 12 November 2015)
head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
elections/appointments: under the constitution, president elected by the Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jioji Konousi KONROTE elected 12 Ocotber 2015 defeating Ratu Epeli GANILAU 31 to 14
description: unicameral Parliament (50 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms; the new constitution of 2013 restructured Parliament from bicameral to unicameral
elections: last held on 17 September 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
election results: percent of vote by party - Fiji First 59.2%, SDL 28.2%, National Federation Party 5.5%, other 7.1%; seats by party - Fiji First 32, SDL 15, National Federation Party 3
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, all puisne judges of the High Court, and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil, criminal, family, employment, and tax divisions); note - in 1987, the Supreme Court assumed functions formerly performed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; judges of the Supreme Court, the president of the Court of Appeal, the justices of the Court of Appeal, and puisne judges of the High Court appointed by the president of Fiji upon the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission after consulting with the cabinet minister and the committee of the House of Representatives responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice, Supreme Court judges and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70 but may be waived for one or more sessions of the court; puisne judges appointed for not less than 4 years nor more than 7 years with mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)
FijiFirst [Aiyaz SAYED-KHAIYUM]
Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]
Fiji United Freedon Party or FUFP [Jagath KARUNARATNE]
National Federation Party or NFP [Dalip KUMAR] (primarily Indian)
Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Adi Sivia QORO]
Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA [Pio TABAIWALU]
Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (suports restoration of a democratic government)
Viti Landowners Association
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca (suspended), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Solo MARA (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 2000 M Street NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325
chief of mission: Ambassador Judith CEFKIN (since 3 February 2015); note - also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
embassy: 158 Princes Rd, Tamavua
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-8685
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 blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jack reflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
Fijian canoe; national color: light blue
name: "God Bless Fiji"
lyrics/music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
note: adopted 1970; known in Fijian as "Meda Dau Doka" (Let Us Show Pride); adapted from the hymn, "Dwelling in Beulah Land," the anthem's English lyrics are generally sung, although they differ in meaning from the official Fijian lyrics
Economy :: FIJI
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Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed and connected of the Pacific island economies. Earnings from the tourism industry, with an estimated 755,000 tourists visiting in 2015, and remittances from Fijian’s working abroad are the country’s largest foreign exchange earners.
Fiji's sugar remains a significant industry and a major export. The sugar industry reforms since 2010 have improved productivity and returns, but the industry faces the complete withdrawal of European Union preferential prices by 2017. Fiji’s trade imbalance continues to widen with increased imports and sluggish performance of domestic exports.
The return to parliamentary democracy and successful elections in September 2014 have boosted investor confidence. Private sector investment in 2015 exceeded 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.
$7.798 billion (2015 est.)
$7.477 billion (2014 est.)
$7.1 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 164
$4.526 billion (2015 est.)
4.3% (2015 est.)
5.3% (2014 est.)
4.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$8,800 (2015 est.)
$8,400 (2014 est.)
$8,000 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 141
13.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
10.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
7.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
household consumption: 72%
government consumption: 13.5%
investment in fixed capital: 20.4%
investment in inventories: -0.1%
exports of goods and services: 56.7%
imports of goods and services: -62.5%
(2015 est.)
agriculture: 11.9%
industry: 19.6%
services: 68.4% (2015 est.)
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
2.2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
347,700 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
8.8% (2014 est.)
8.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
31% (2009 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 34.9% (2009 est.)
revenues: $1.087 billion
expenditures: $1.182 billion (2015 est.)
24% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
-2.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
49.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
51.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
calendar year
2.8% (2015 est.)
0.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
1.75% (31 December 2010)
3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
6.1% (31 December 2015 est.)
5.76% (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$1.85 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.823 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$3.165 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.118 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$2.979 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.896 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$452.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$392.2 million (31 December 2011)
$418.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
-$286 million (2015 est.)
-$386 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$1.244 billion (2015 est.)
$1.152 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil, mineral water
US 11.8%, Australia 10%, UK 6.4%, Samoa 6.2%, Tonga 5.5% (2014)
$2.283 billion (2015 est.)
$2.403 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Singapore 18.4%, South Korea 14%, NZ 13.7%, China 13.1%, Australia 12.9% (2014)
$903 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$916.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$769.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$797.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$4.193 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.893 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$50.08 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$50.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
2.115 (2015 est.)
1.8874 (2014 est.)
1.8874 (2013 est.)
1.79 (2012 est.)
1.7932 (2011 est.)
Energy :: FIJI
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857.5 million kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
777.6 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
259,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
46.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
48.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
5.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
9,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
690.3 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
10,130 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
1.543 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Communications :: FIJI
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total subscriptions: 74,700
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
total: 876,200
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada, as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)
Fiji TV, a publicly traded company, operates a free-to-air channel, as well as Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2009)
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
NA
.fj
21,739 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 115
total: 331,700
percent of population: 36.7% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Transportation :: FIJI
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28 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 121
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 19 (2013)
total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to December (2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,686 km
unpaved: 1,754 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 163
203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 97
total: 11
by type: passenger 4, passenger/cargo 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 2) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
major seaport(s): Lautoka, Levuka, Suva
Military and Security :: FIJI
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Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2011)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2013)
1.47% of GDP (2012)
1.44% of GDP (2011)
1.47% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 61
Transnational Issues :: FIJI
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none
Central Intelligence Agency
