Fiji

Broadcast media

Fiji TV, a publicly traded company, operates a free-to-air channel, as well as Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2009)

Internet country code

.fj

Internet users

total: 421,000 | percent of population: 46.3% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

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 | domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 115 per 100 persons | 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) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 72,565 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 966,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.24 billion | expenditures: $1.383 billion (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010) | 3% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 117

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.79% (31 December 2015 est.) | 5.76% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Current account balance

-$257 million (2015 est.) | -$326 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Debt - external

$820.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $863.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

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 755,000 tourists visiting in 2015, and remittances from Fijian’s working abroad are the country’s largest foreign exchange earners. | Fiji's sugar remains a significant industry and a major export. The sugar industry reforms since 2010 have improved productivity and returns, but the industry faces the complete withdrawal of European Union preferential prices by 2017. 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 have boosted investor confidence. Private sector investment in 2015 exceeded 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.

Exchange rates

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - | 2.0976 (2015 est.) | 1.8874 (2014 est.) | 1.8874 (2013 est.) | 1.79 (2012 est.) | 1.7932 (2011 est.)

Exports

$1.233 billion (2015 est.) | $1.152 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 13.4%, Australia 10.2%, Samoa 6.7%, Tonga 5.9% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.782 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.048 billion (2015 est.) | $7.716 billion (2014 est.) | $7.329 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 163

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 70.4% | government consumption: 10.7% | investment in fixed capital: 19.7% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 56.4% | imports of goods and services: -57.2% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 11% | industry: 18.4% | services: 70.6% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,000 (2015 est.) | $8,700 (2014 est.) | $8,300 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 140

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (2015 est.) | 5.3% (2014 est.) | 4.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Gross national saving

12.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 8.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | 7% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% | highest 10%: 34.9% (2009 est.)

Imports

$2.283 billion (2015 est.) | $2.403 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 16.2%, South Korea 15.7%, NZ 14%, Australia 13.4%, Singapore 8.7%, France 7% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

2.8% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2015 est.) | 0.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Labor force

347.7 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 232

Labor force - by occupation

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

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

Population below poverty line

31% (2009 est.)

Public debt

48.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | 47.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$918.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $916.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Stock of broad money

$3.165 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $3.118 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$189.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $186.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.047 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $3.747 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Stock of domestic credit

$3.068 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $2.896 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Stock of narrow money

$1.931 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $1.823 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Taxes and other revenues

25.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Unemployment rate

8.8% (2014 est.) | 8.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.7 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - consumption

800 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - from fossil fuels

46.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

48.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - from other renewable sources

5.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity - installed generating capacity

300,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - production

900 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity access

population without electricity: 375,274 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 72% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 137

Refined petroleum products - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,970 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

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

Climate

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

1,129 km

Elevation

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

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

Geographic coordinates

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Geography - note

includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 23.3% | arable land 9%; permanent crops 4.7%; permanent pasture 9.6% | forest: 55.7% | other: 21% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

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

Natural hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Administrative divisions

14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu

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 third Sunday in January

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: 5 years

Constitution

several previous; latest signed into law September 2013 (2016)

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

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

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

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: under the constitution, president elected by the Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Jioji Konousi KONROTE elected 12 Ocotber 2015 defeating Ratu Epeli GANILAU 31 to 14

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

10 October 1970 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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)

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament (50 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms; the new constitution of 2013 restructured Parliament from bicameral to unicameral | elections: last held on 17 September 2014 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - Fiji First 59.2%, SDL 28.2%, National Federation Party 5.5%, other 7.1%; seats by party - Fiji First 32, SDL 15, National Federation Party 3

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, 7 September; Fiji (independence) Day, 10 October (1970)

National symbol(s)

Fijian canoe; national color: light blue

Political parties and leaders

FijiFirst [Aiyaz SAYED-KHAIYUM] | Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY] | Fiji United Freedon Party or FUFP [Jagath KARUNARATNE] | National Federation Party or NFP [Dalip KUMAR] (primarily Indian) | Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Adi Sivia QORO] | Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA [Pio TABAIWALU]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (suports restoration of a democratic government) | Viti Landowners Association

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Reelected 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. Following years of political turmoil, long-delayed legislative elections were held in September 2014 that were deemed "credible" by international observers and that resulted in BAINIMARAMA being reelected.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.47% of GDP (2012) | 1.44% of GDP (2011) | 1.47% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 61

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.88% (male 130,414/female 124,774) | 15-24 years: 16.42% (male 76,709/female 73,565) | 25-54 years: 41.11% (male 192,605/female 183,681) | 55-64 years: 8.29% (male 38,427/female 37,412) | 65 years and over: 6.31% (male 26,534/female 31,182) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

19 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 52.8% | youth dependency ratio: 43.9% | elderly dependency ratio: 8.9% | potential support ratio: 11.2% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.5% of population | rural: 91.2% of population | total: 95.7% of population | urban: 0.5% of population | rural: 8.8% of population | total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 102

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) | note: a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTuakei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.13% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

700 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Health expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 160

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Languages

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.7 years | male: 70 years | female: 75.5 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

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 (2016)

Major urban areas - population

SUVA (capital) 176,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

30 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Median age

total: 28.6 years | male: 28.4 years | female: 28.8 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Nationality

noun: Fijian(s) | adjective: Fijian

Net migration rate

-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35.9% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 25

Physicians density

0.43 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

915,303 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Population growth rate

0.63% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 93.4% of population | rural: 88.4% of population | total: 91.1% of population | urban: 6.6% of population | rural: 11.6% of population | total: 8.9% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female | total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.44 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 18.7% | male: 14.8% | female: 25.4% (2007 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 53.7% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

28 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 121

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 24 | 914 to 1,523 m: 5 | under 914 m: 19 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

DQ (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 11 | by type: passenger 4, passenger/cargo 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2 | foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 2) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 108

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,336,976 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 83,686,504 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Lautoka, Levuka, Suva

Railways

total: 597 km | 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) | country comparison to the world: 110

Roadways

total: 3,440 km | paved: 1,686 km | unpaved: 1,754 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 163

Waterways

203 km (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 97