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Introduction Fiji
Background:
 Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule previously interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to islands by British in 19th century). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a 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 and gave a mandate to government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
Geography Fiji
Location:
 Oceania, island group in South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
 18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:
 Oceania
Area:
 total: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
 0 km
Coastline:
 1,129 km
Maritime claims:
 measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 30 sq km (1998 est.)
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 Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of selected agreements
Geography - note:
 includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
People Fiji
Total Population:
 868,531 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
 0-14 years: 32% (male 141,979; female 136,378)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 278,759; female 278,150)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 15,329; female 17,936) (2003 est.)
Median age:
 total: 23.7 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 24.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
 1.41% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
 23.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
 -3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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: 0.85 male(s)/female
Population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
 total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy:
 Population: 68.88 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
 2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
 300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
 NA
Nationality:
 noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:
 Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)
Religions:
 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)
Languages:
 English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:
 definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Government Fiji
Country name:
 conventional long form: Republic of Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
Government type:
 republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:
 Suva
Administrative divisions:
 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence:
 10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:
 Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:
 promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - May 1999 election previously first test of amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for first time at national level
Legal system:
 based on British system
Suffrage:
 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
 chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA 2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists of highest ranking members of traditional chief system
elections: president elected by Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
 bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by president, and one appointed by council of Rotuma) and House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for council of Rotuma constituency encompassing whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1 September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%, other 16.5%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
 Supreme Court (judges are appointed by president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
 Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
 NA
International organization participation:
 ACP, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from US:
 chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON
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 flag of UK in upper hoist-side quadrant and Fijian shield centered on outer half of flag; shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
Economy Fiji
Economy - overview:
 Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of most developed of Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and government's ability to manage its budget.
GDP:
 buying power parity - $4.822 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
 4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
 buying power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
 agriculture: 17%
industry: 25%
services: 58% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
 25.5% (1990-91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
 lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
 137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
 agriculture, includes subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
 7.6% (1999)
Budget:
 revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million, includes capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries:
 tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, limited cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:
 NA%
Electricity - production:
 520.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
 fossil fuel: 18.5%
hydro: 81.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
 483.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
 0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
 5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
 NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
 NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
 sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Exports:
 $442 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
 sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
 US 25.1%, Australia 19.5%, UK 10.6%, Japan 6.3%, Samoa 5.5% (2002)
Imports:
 $642 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
 manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
 Australia 37.3%, New Zealand 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Japan 4.2%, China 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
 $135.9 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
 $40.3 million (1995)
Currency:
 Fijian dollar (FJD)
Currency code:
 FJD
Exchange rates:
 Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.19 (2002), 2.28 (2001), 2.13 (2000), 1.97 (1999), 1.99 (1998)
Fiscal year:
 calendar year
Communications Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
 80,901 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
 5,200 (1997)
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
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
 AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
 541,476 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
 NA
Televisions:
 88,110 (1999)
Internet country code:
 .fj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
 2 (2000)
Internet users:
 15,000 (2002)
Transportation Fiji
Railways:
 total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to September) (2002)
Highways:
 total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
 203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
Ports and harbors:
 Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda
Merchant marine:
 total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4 (2002 est.)
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
 27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
 total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
 total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Military Fiji
Military branches:
 Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces, naval division
Military manpower - military age:
 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
 males age 15-49: 235,546 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
 males age 15-49: 129,432 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
 males: 9,359 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
 $39.21 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Fiji
Disputes - international:
 none