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Introduction - Fiji
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 - Fiji
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: 156
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:
Current Weather
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 (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
28.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%)
per capita: 82 cu 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 - Fiji
Population:
957,780 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 147,243/female 141,177)
15-64 years: 65% (male 311,680/female 310,407)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 21,220/female 26,053) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.3 years
female: 26.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.367% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Birth rate:
21.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Death rate:
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Net migration rate:
-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 145
male: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.03 years
country comparison to the world: 138
male: 68.46 years
female: 73.73 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.63 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
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)
Religions:
Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%,
Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim
6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)
Languages:
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
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)
Education expenditures:
6.5% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 30
Government - Fiji
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/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 last 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 on 25 July 1997; effective on 28 July 1998; note - it encourages
multiculturalism and makes multiparty government mandatory
Legal system:
based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ 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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, 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
Economy - Fiji
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):
$3.704 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$3.799 billion (2008 est.)
$3.803 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.084 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
-0.1% (2008 est.)
-0.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$4,100 (2008 est.)
$4,100 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 13.5%
services: 77.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
335,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 77
Population below poverty line:
25.5% (FY90/91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.363 billion
expenditures: $1.376 billion (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.8% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 141
Central bank discount rate:
6.32% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
9.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.97% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 102
9.01% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$738.6 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.012 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 118
$1.088 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.948 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
$568.2 million (31 December 2008)
$522.2 million (31 December 2007)
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:
928 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - consumption:
863 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - exports:
2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - imports:
20,340 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Current account balance:
-$507 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Exports:
$1.202 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 143
Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
US 15.21%, Australia 12.11%, UK 11.23%, Samoa 5.39%, Tonga 4.74%, Japan 4.44%
(2009)
Imports:
$3.12 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 136
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 27.27%, Australia 19.36%, NZ 15.15%, China 6.92%, India 5.23%,
Thailand 4.25% (2009)
Debt - external:
$127 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
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)
Communications - Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
129,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
Telephones - mobile cellular:
600,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
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: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited islands;
most towns and large villages have automatic telephone exchanges and direct
dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 80 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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet hosts:
12,747 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
103,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Transportation - Fiji
Airports:
28 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 19 (2009)
Railways:
total: 597 km
country comparison to the world: 111
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
country comparison to the world: 98
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 117
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Lautoka, Suva
Military - Fiji
Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 45
(2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 248,020
females age 16-49: 243,468 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 195,414
females age 16-49: 206,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,131
female: 8,776 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Transnational Issues - Fiji
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Fiji is a source country for children trafficked for the
purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and a destination country for a small
number of women from China and India trafficked for the purposes of forced labor
and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Fiji does not fully comply with the minimum standards for
the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so;
the government has demonstrated no action to investigate or prosecute
traffickers, assist victims, take steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex
acts, or support any anti-trafficking information or education campaigns; Fiji
has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2009)
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