Fiji

Fiji

Introduction

Background

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 but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji’s democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 18,274 sq km
country comparison to the world: 157 land:18,274 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

1,129 km

Maritime claims

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

Climate

tropical marine

only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops:4.65%
other:84.4% (2005)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

28.6 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.07cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%)
per capita:82cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Environment – current issues

deforestation

soil erosion

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Fijian(s)
adjective:Fijian

Ethnic groups

Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)

Languages

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Religions

Protestant 55.4% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)

Population

883,125 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.9% (male 130,409/female 124,870)
15-64 years:65.9% (male 297,071/female 284,643)
65 years and over:5.2% (male 21,187/female 24,945) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 26.9 years
male:26.7 years
female:27.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.798% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Birth rate

21.11 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Net migration rate

-7.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Urbanization

urban population: 52% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

SUVA (capital) 174,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

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:0.81 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

26 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 119

Infant mortality rate

total: 11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 144 male:12.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female:9.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.31 years
country comparison to the world: 138 male:68.73 years
female:74.03 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.61 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Health expenditures

9.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32

Physicians density

0.4529 physicians/1,000 population (2003)
country comparison to the world: 129

Hospital bed density

2.08 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 100

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

23.9% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 12

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 26

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:93.7%
male:95.5%
female:91.9% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2005)

Government

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

Government type

republic

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 fourth Sunday in October

ends first Sunday in March

Administrative divisions

4 divisions and 1 dependency*

Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence

10 October 1970 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Constitution

enacted 25 July 1997

effective 28 July 1998

note – constitution encourages multiculturalism and makes multiparty government mandatory

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since 30 July 2009)
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

former President ILOILOVATU 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 responsible to Parliament

note – coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:under the constitution, president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

in 2007 the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended from its role in electing the president

prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU was appointed by Chief Justice Anthony GATES

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats

14 members 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 members 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)
elections:House of Representatives – last held on 6-13 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results:House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – SDL 44.6%, FLP 39.2%, UPP 0.8%, independents 4.9%, other 10.5%

seats by party – SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Court of Appeal

High Court

Magistrates’ Courts

Political parties and leaders

Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]

Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT [Sitiveni RABUKA] (primarily Fijian), and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN])

Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]

General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party)

Girmit Heritage Party or GHP

Justice and Freedom Party or AIM

Lio ‘On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR

National Federation Party or NFP [Pramond RAE] (primarily Indian)

Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]

Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]

Party of the Truth or POTT

United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]

United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for restoration of a democratic government)

Viti Landowners Association

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca (suspended), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Winston THOMPSON
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 C. Steven MCGANN
embassy:31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address:P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone:[679] 331-4466
FAX:[679] 330-0081

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 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

National anthem

name: “God Bless Fiji”
lyrics/music:Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
note:adopted 1970

the anthem is 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

Economy – overview

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. In 2007 tourist arrivals were down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector, and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult business climate. 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. Fiji’s current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.869 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168 $3.864 billion (2009 est.)
$3.983 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.131 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186 -3% (2009 est.)
-0.1% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$4,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154 $4,400 (2009 est.)
$4,600 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 16.1%
industry:24.4%
services:59.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force

335,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 70%
industry and services:30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 82

Population below poverty line

25.5% (FY90/91)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

21.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Budget

revenues: $781.7 million
expenditures:$885.9 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156 3.7% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 7.9% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$788.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 $663.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.911 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 $1.741 billion

Stock of domestic credit

$1.778 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 $1.737 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.404 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 98 $1.607 billion (31 December 2009)
$568.2 million (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas

cattle, pigs, horses, goats

fish

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

970 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity – consumption

865.8 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Oil – consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Oil – exports

1,857 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Oil – imports

18,850 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Current account balance

-$507 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114 -$237.8 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$625.3 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163 $625.3 million (2006)

Exports – commodities

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports – partners

US 15.7%, Australia 14.6%, Japan 6.1%, Samoa 5.7%, Tonga 5% (2010)

Imports

$1.3 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168 $1.3 billion (2006)

Imports – commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Imports – partners

Singapore 31.1%, Australia 19.1%, NZ 15.1%, China 8.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$567.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$127 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
NA (2007)
1.7313 (2006)
1.691 (2005)
1.7331 (2004)
1.8958 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

28 (2010)
country comparison to the world:120

Airports – with paved runways

total: 4
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:2 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 24
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:19 (2010)

Railways

total: 597 km
country comparison to the world: 108 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)

Roadways

total: 3,440 km
country comparison to the world: 162 paved:1,692 km
unpaved:1,748 km (2000)

Waterways

203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 98

Merchant marine

total: 10
country comparison to the world: 112 by type:passenger 4, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:2 (Australia 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Lautoka, Levuka, Suva

Military

Military branches

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 233,240
females age 16-49:222,587 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 183,730
females age 16-49:188,325 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 8,403
female:8,039 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none