Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Area:
total:18,274 sq km
land:18,274 sq km
water:0 sq km
country comparison to the world:157
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12nm
exclusive economic zone:200nm
contiguous zone:24nm
continental shelf:200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation:
0 mlowest point: Pacific Ocean
1324 highest point: Tomanivi
Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use:
agricultural land:23.3%(2011 est.)
arable land:9%(2011 est.)/permanent crops:4.7%(2011 est.)/permanent pasture:9.6%(2011 est.)
forest:55.7%(2011 est.)
other:21%(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
Population distribution:
approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:
the widespread practice of waste incineration is a major contributor to air pollution in the country, as are vehicle emissions in urban areas; deforestation and soil erosion are significant problems; a contributory factor to erosion is clearing of land by bush burning, a widespread practie that threatens biodiversity
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
Geography - note:
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
Population:
926,276(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:161
Nationality:
noun:Fijian(s)
adjective:Fijian
Ethnic groups:
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)(2007 est.)
note:a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTaukei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji
Languages:
English(official), Fijian(official), Hindustani
Religions:
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.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:27.45%(male 129,962 /female 124,305)
15-24 years:15.91%(male 75,165 /female 72,219)
25-54 years:41.05%(male 194,743 /female 185,469)
55-64 years:8.79%(male 41,286 /female 40,167)
65 years and over:6.8%(male 28,924 /female 34,036)(2018 est.)
population pyramid: Australia - Oceania
:: FijiPrint This is the population pyramid for Fiji. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:52.8(2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:43.9(2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:8.9(2015 est.)
potential support ratio:11.2(2015 est.)
Median age:
Population growth rate:
0.56%(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:151
Birth rate:
18.2 births/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:91
Death rate:
6.2 deaths/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:156
Net migration rate:
-6.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:200
Population distribution:
approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization:
urban population:56.2% of total population(2018)
rate of urbanization:1.62% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
178,000 SUVA (capital)(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
25-54 years:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
55-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
65 years and over:0.85 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
total population:1.03 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
30 deaths/100,000 live births(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:113
Infant mortality rate:
total:9.3 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
male:10.2 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
female:8.2 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:142
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:73.2 years(2018 est.)
male:70.5 years(2018 est.)
female:76 years(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:141
Total fertility rate:
2.37 children born/woman(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:82
Health expenditures:
4.5% of GDP(2014)
country comparison to the world:156
Physicians density:
0.84 physicians/1,000 population(2015)
Hospital bed density:
2.3 beds/1,000 population(2011)
Drinking water source:
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.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:urban:93.4% of population(2015 est.)
rural:88.4% of population(2015 est.)
total:91.1% of population(2015 est.)
unimproved:urban:6.6% of population(2015 est.)
rural:11.6% of population(2015 est.)
total:8.9% of population(2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:111
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Major infectious diseases:
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
30.2%(2016)
country comparison to the world:24
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP(2013)
country comparison to the world:113
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:15.4%(2016 est.)
male:11.9%(2016 est.)
female:22.4%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:85
Country name:
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
Government type:
Capital:
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 first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution:
several previous; latest signed into law September 2013(2017)
Legal system:
common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
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:at least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Judicial branch:
highest courts: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)
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)
Executive branch:
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:president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 August 2018 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Jioji Konousi KONROTE reelected president (unopposed)
Legislative branch:
description:unicameral Parliament (51 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections:last held on 14 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)
election results:percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 50%, SODELPA 39.6%, NFP 7.4%; seats by party - FijiFirst 27, SODELPA 21, NFP 3; composition - men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6%
Political parties and leaders:
FijiFirst [Veroqe \"Frank\" BAINIMARAMA]
Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]
Fiji United Freedon Party or FUFP [Jagath KARUNARATNE]
National Federation Party or NFP [Biman PRASAD] (primarily Indian)
Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Lynda TABUYA]
Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA
Unity Fiji [Adi QORO]
International organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
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 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, holding a coconut pod between its paws, above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, a banana bunch, and a white dove of peace
National symbol(s):
Fijian canoe; national color: light blue
National anthem:
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 - overview:
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 842,884 tourists visiting in 2017, and remittances from Fijian’s working abroad are the country’s largest foreign exchange earners.
Bottled water exports to the US is Fiji’s largest domestic export. Fiji's sugar sector remains a significant industry and a major export, but crops and one of the sugar mills suffered damage during Cyclone Winston in 2016. 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 improved investor confidence, but increasing bureaucratic regulation, new taxes, and lack of consultation with relevant stakeholders brought four consecutive years of decline for Fiji on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index. Private sector investment in 2017 approached 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.629 billion(2017 est.)
$8.376 billion(2016 est.)
$8.321 billion(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:163
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.891 billion(2017 est.)(2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3%(2017 est.)
0.7%(2016 est.)
3.8%(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:113
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,800(2017 est.)
$9,600(2016 est.)
$9,600(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:140
Gross national saving:
12.7% of GDP(2017 est.)
13.4% of GDP(2016 est.)
16.1% of GDP(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:146
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:81.3%(2017 est.)
government consumption:24.4%(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:16.9%(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:0%(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:29%(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:-51.6%(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:13.5%(2017 est.)
industry:17.4%(2017 est.)
services:69.1%(2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, copra, ginger, tropical fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, chicken, fish
Industries:
tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8%(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:108
Labor force:
353,100(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:161
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:44.2%
industry:14.3%
services:41.6%(2011)
Unemployment rate:
4.5%(2017 est.)
5.5%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:63
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:34.9%(2009 est.)
highest 10%:34.9%(2009 est.)
Budget:
revenues:1.454 billion(2017 est.)
expenditures:1.648 billion(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29.7% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:80
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:157
Public debt:
48.9% of GDP(2017 est.)
47.5% of GDP(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:106
Fiscal year:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4%(2017 est.)
3.9%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:140
Central bank discount rate:
1.75%(31 December 2010)
3%(31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world:122
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.74%(31 December 2017 est.)
5.85%(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:129
Stock of narrow money:
$2.272 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$1.994 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:132
Stock of broad money:
$2.272 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$1.994 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:140
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.607 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$3.295 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:135
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$452.5 million(31 December 2012 est.)
$392.2 million(31 December 2011 est.)
$418.8 million(31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:113
Current account balance:
-$277 million(2017 est.)
-$131 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:101
Exports:
$908.2 million(2017 est.)
$709 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:164
Exports - partners:
US 20.8%, Australia 14.9%, NZ 7.7%, Tonga 5%, Vanuatu 4.6%, China 4.5%, Spain 4.3%, UK 4.3%, Kiribati 4.1%(2017)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, including oil, fish, beverages, gems, sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil, mineral water
Imports:
$1.911 billion(2017 est.)
$1.761 billion(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:168
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food and beverages, chemicals, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Australia 19.2%, NZ 17.2%, Singapore 17%, China 13.8%(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.116 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$908.6 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:130
Debt - external:
$1.022 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$696.4 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:166
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$4.342 billion(31 December 2017 est.)
$4.022 billion(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:108
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$117.1 million(31 December 2017 est.)
$115.1 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:110
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
2.075(2017 est.)
2.0947(2016 est.)
2.0947(2015 est.)
2.0976(2014 est.)
1.8874(2013 est.)
Electricity access:
population without electricity:375,274(2012)
electrification - total population:59%(2012)
electrification - urban areas:72%(2012)
electrification - rural areas:45%(2012)
Electricity - production:
914 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:155
Electricity - consumption:
850 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:159
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:135
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:149
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
338,000 kW(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:154
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
34% of total installed capacity(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:181
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:91
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
38% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:55
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
27% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:24
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:136
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:124
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:128
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:132
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:146
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:151
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:156
Refined petroleum products - imports:
17,460 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:131
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:133
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:147
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:105
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:126
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:136
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
2.369 million Mt(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:155
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:75,952(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:8(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:147
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:1,033,915(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:112(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:159
Telephone system:
general assessment:modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center; subject to occasional devastating cyclones; Fiji is a leader in the Pacific region in terms of development of its ICT sector and investment in telecoms infrastructure; initial progress towards 5G readiness(2017)
domestic:telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct dialing; fixed-line 8 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 112 per 100 persons(2017)
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); 2018 Fijian government to implement cable to connect the two major islands via submarine cable system(2017)
Broadcast media:
Internet country code:
Internet users:
total:425,680(July 2016 est.)
percent of population:46.5%(July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:152
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:12,135(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:1(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:167