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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

500,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center domestic: NA international: access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

65,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4,300 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

21,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $540.65 million expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$213 million (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$40.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 300,000 tourists visit each year, including thousands of Americans following the start of regularly scheduled non-stop air service from Los Angeles. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further damaged the sugar industry, but its recovery in 1999 contributed to robust GDP growth. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

512 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

550 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 20% hydro: 80% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.9654 (January 2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$393 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities [time series]

sugar 32%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 34%, UK 18%, other Pacific island countries 11%, US 11%, NZ 5%, Japan 5% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 16.5% industry: 25.5% services: 58% (1998 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.8% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$612 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 45%, NZ 15%, Japan 7%, US 5%, Singapore 4% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.9% (1995)

Industries [time series]

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

235,000

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

6% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 18,270 sq km land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

1,129 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 65% other: 11% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

measured from claimed archipelagic 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

Natural hazards [time series]

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Suva

Constitution [time series]

10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended 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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands conventional short form: Fiji

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Osman SIDDIQUE embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: [679] 314466 FAX: [679] 300081

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador "Ratu" Napolioni MASIREWA chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); Vice President Ratu Josefa Iloilo ULUIVUDA (since 18 January 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mahendra CHAUDHRY (since 18 May 1999); Deputy Prime Ministers Tupeni BABA (since NA 1999) and Adi Kuini Vuikaba SPEED (since NA 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament note: there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent of Great Council of Chiefs vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Independence [time series]

10 October 1970 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

based on British system

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the Rotuman constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 11 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fiji Labor Party 37, others 34

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Fellowship Party (Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito Party) or VLV (primarily Methodist Fijian) [leader NA]; Conservative Party of Fiji or CPF [leader NA]; Fiji Conservative Party or FCP [leader NA]; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim) [leader NA]; Fiji Indian Congress Party [leader NA]; Fiji Indian Liberal Party [leader NA]; Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED]; Fijian Nationalist Party or FNP [Sakeasi BUTADROKA]; Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA]; Four Corners Party [leader NA]; General Electors' Association [David PICKERING]; General Voters Party or GVP [Leo SMITH]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Jai Ram REDDY]; National Unity Party [Apisai TORA] note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National Congress or ANC merged with the Fijian Association or FA; the remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General Electors' Association

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian. Fiji has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes ground and naval forces)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$24 million (FY98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.1% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 223,496 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 123,051 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 9,426 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 141,779; female 136,212) 15-64 years: 63% (male 263,127; female 262,686) 65 years and over: 4% (male 13,405; female 15,285) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.48 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

14.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.94 years male: 65.54 years female: 70.45 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.6% male: 93.8% female: 89.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

832,494 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.41% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

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 (1986)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.89 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

25 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 17 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva

Railways [time series]

total: 597 km; note - belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)

Waterways [time series]

203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges