| Fiji |
Flag:
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Map:
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| 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. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was appointed interim prime minister. |
| Geography and Environmental |
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) |
| Area Total: 18,270 sq km |
| Area Land: 18,270 sq km |
| Area Water: 0 sq km |
| Area Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey |
| Coastline: 1,129 km |
| Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation |
| Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin |
| Elevation Extremes Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 m |
| Elevation Extremes Highest Point: Tomanivi 1,324 m |
| Natural Resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower |
| Land Use Arable Land: 10.95% |
| Land Use Permanent Crops: 4.65% |
| Land Use Other: 84.4% (2005) |
| Irrigated Land: 30 sq km (2003) |
| Natural Hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January |
| Environment Current Issues: deforestation; soil erosion |
| Geography Note: includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited |
| Population |
| Population: 918,675 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age Structure 0 to 14 Years: 30.9% (male 144,665/female 138,816) |
| Age Structure 15 to 64 Years: 64.7% (male 297,709/female 296,897) |
| Age Structure 65 Years And Over: 4.4% (male 18,397/female 22,191) (2007 est.) |
| Median Age Total: 24.9 years |
| Median Age Male: 24.4 years |
| Median Age Female: 25.4 years (2007 est.) |
| Population Growth Rate: 1.394% (2007 est.) |
| Birth Rate: 22.37 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death Rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex Ratio At Birth: 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Sex Ratio Under 15 Years: 1.042 male(s)/female |
| Sex Ratio 15 to 64 Years: 1.003 male(s)/female |
| Sex Ratio 65 Years And Over: 0.829 male(s)/female |
| Sex Ratio Total Population: 1.006 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
| Infant Mortality Rate Total: 11.99 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Infant Mortality Rate Male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Infant Mortality Rate Female: 10.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life Expectancy At BirthTotalPopulation: 70.12 years |
| Life Expectancy At Birth Male: 67.6 years |
| Life Expectancy At Birth Female: 72.76 years (2007 est.) |
| Total Fertility Rate: 2.7 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate: 0.1% (2003 est.) |
| HIV AIDS People Living With HIV AIDS: 600 (2003 est.) |
| HIV AIDS Deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.) |
| Religions: Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%), Hindu 34% (Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%), Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%. other 2.8%), other or unspecified 5.6%, none 0.3% (1996 census) |
| Languages: English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani |
| Literacy Definition: age 15 and over can read and write |
| Literacy Total Population: 93.7% |
| Literacy Male: 95.5% |
| Literacy Female: 91.9% (2003 est.) |
| Administrative Divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western |
| Legal System: based on British system |
| 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 300,000 to 400,000 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 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. 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 increased significantly. |
| GDP Purchasing Power Parity: $5.504 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP Real Growth Rate: 2.7% (2006 est.) |
| GDP Composition By Sector Agriculture: 8.9% |
| GDP Composition By Sector Industry: 13.5% |
| GDP Composition By Sector Services: 77.6% (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force: 137,000 (1999) |
Labor Force By Occupation: agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.) |
| Unemployment Rate: 7.6% (1999) |
Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation Rate Consumer Prices: 3% (2005) |
| Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries |
| Industrial Production Growth Rate: NA% |
| Energy |
| Electricity Production: 817 million kWh (2004) |
| Electricity Production By Source Fossil Fuel: 18.5% |
| Electricity Production By Source Hydro: 81.5% |
| Electricity Production By Source Nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity Production By Source Other: 0% (2001) |
| Electricity Consumption: 759.8 million kWh (2004) |
| Electricity Exports: 0 kWh (2004) |
| Electricity Imports: 0 kWh (2004) |
| Oil Production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil Consumption: 10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m (2004 est.) |
| Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.) |
| Exports: $719.6 million f.o.b. (2005) |
| Exports Commodities: sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil |
| Exports Partners: US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa 4.1% (2005) |
| Imports: $1.462 billion c.i.f. (2005) |
| Imports Commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals |
| Imports Partners: Singapore 27.5%, Australia 23.7%, NZ 19%, Thailand 4.5% (2005) |
| Debt External: $127 million (2004 est.) |
| Economic Aid Recipient: $63.9 million (2004) |
| Communications |
| Telephones Main Lines In Use: 102,000 (2003) |
| TelephonesMobileCellular: 142,200 (2004) |
| 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 |
| Telephone System Domestic: NA |
| Telephone System 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) |
| Radio Broadcast Stations: AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: 541,476 (1999) |
| Television Broadcast Stations: NA |
| Televisions: 88,110 (1999) |
| Internet Service Providers-ISPs: 2 (2000) |
| Internet Users: 61,000 (2004) |
| Transportation |
| Railways Total: 597 km |
| Railways Narrow Gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge |
Waterways: 203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2004) |
| Airports: 28 (2006) |
| Military Expenditures Percent Of GDP: 2.2% (2005 est.) |
| Disputes International: none |