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: 425,680 | percent of population: 46.5% (July 2016 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 110 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 74,182 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 927,793 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (July 2016 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: $1.384 billion | expenditures: $1.528 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010) | 3% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 118

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.85% (31 December 2016 est.) | 5.79% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Current account balance

$-236 million (2016 est.) | $-72.4 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Debt - external

$696.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $871.3 million (31 December 2015 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 792,300 tourists visiting in 2016, and remittances from Fijian’s working abroad are the country’s largest foreign exchange earners. | Fiji's sugar sector remains a significant industry and a major export, but crops and one of the sugar mills suffered damage during Cyclone Winston in 2016. The sector also faces the complete withdrawal of European Union preferential prices in 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 improved investor confidence, but increasing bureaucratic regulation, new taxes and lack of consultation with relevant stakeholders brought four consecutive years of decline for Fiji on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index. Private sector investment in 2016 exceeded 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.

Exchange rates

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - | 2.0947 (2016 est.) | 2.0947 (2015 est.) | 2.0976 (2014 est.) | 1.8874 (2013 est.) | 1.79 (2012 est.)

Exports

$709 million (2016 est.) | $886.2 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 21.8%, Australia 18.1%, NZ 8.5%, China 6.2%, Tonga 5.1%, Vanuatu 5.1%, UK 4.5%, Kiribati 4.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.679 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.188 billion (2016 est.) | $8.054 billion (2015 est.) | $7.673 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 161

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 72.4% | government consumption: 16.2% | investment in fixed capital: 18.4% | investment in inventories: 1.2% | exports of goods and services: 44.3% | imports of goods and services: -52.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 10.7% | industry: 18% | services: 71.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,400 (2016 est.) | $9,400 (2015 est.) | $9,100 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 141

GDP - real growth rate

0.4% (2016 est.) | 3.8% (2015 est.) | 5.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Gross national saving

9.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 16.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | 10.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.844 billion (2016 est.) | $1.723 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

NZ 17.1%, Australia 17%, Singapore 15.1%, China 15%, Japan 6.7% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.9% (2016 est.) | 1.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Labor force

351,300 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

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: 114

Population below poverty line

31% (2009 est.)

Public debt

49.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 48.4% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$908.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $918.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Stock of broad money

$3.486 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.325 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$115.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $112.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.022 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.802 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Stock of domestic credit

$3.295 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.068 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Stock of narrow money

$1.994 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.931 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Taxes and other revenues

29.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2016 est.) | 8.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.7 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - consumption

827.7 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - from fossil fuels

36% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

39% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - from other renewable sources

25.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Electricity - installed generating capacity

333,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - production

890 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

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: 180

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 138

Refined petroleum products - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Refined petroleum products - exports

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

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,970 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

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 | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas

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 first Sunday in November; ends second 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: president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 October 2015 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Jioji Konousi KONROTE elected president; Parliament vote - Jioji Konousi KONROTE (Fiji First) 31, Ratu Epeli GANILAU (opposition) 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, holding a coconut pod between its paws, above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, a banana bunch, and a white dove of peace

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 - 51 beginning in 2018; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 17 September 2014 (next to be held in 2018) | election results: percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 59.2%, SODELPA 28.2%, NFP 5.5%, other 7.1%; seats by party - FijiFirst 32, SODELPA 15, NFP 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

Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)

National symbol(s)

Fijian canoe; national color: light blue

Political parties and leaders

FijiFirst [Frank BAINIMARAMA] | Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY] | Fiji United Freedon Party or FUFP [Jagath KARUNARATNE] | National Federation Party or NFP [Biman PRASAD] (primarily Indian) | Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Lynda TABUYA] | Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA [Sitiveni RABUKA]

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

0.98% of GDP (2016) | 1.07% of GDP (2015) | 1.03% of GDP (2014) | 1.39% of GDP (2013) | 1.49% of GDP (2012) | 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: 27.7% (male 130,394/female 124,734) | 15-24 years: 16.13% (male 75,803/female 72,774) | 25-54 years: 41.08% (male 193,700/female 184,629) | 55-64 years: 8.53% (male 39,853/female 38,748) | 65 years and over: 6.55% (male 27,714/female 32,589) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

18.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

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

0.1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

<1000 (2016 est.)

Health expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 156

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Languages

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73 years | male: 70.3 years | female: 75.8 years (2017 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: 113

Median age

total: 28.9 years | male: 28.7 years | female: 29.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Nationality

noun: Fijian(s) | adjective: Fijian

Net migration rate

-6.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30.2% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 24

Physicians density

0.44 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

920,938 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Population distribution

approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas

Population growth rate

0.6% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

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

2.41 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Urbanization

urban population: 54.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.18% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 (2017)

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: 162

Waterways

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