Topic: Photos of Fiji

Topic: Introduction
Background: Austronesians settled Fiji around 1000 B.C., followed by successive waves of Melanesians starting around the first century A.D. Fijians traded with Polynesian groups in Samoa and Tonga, and by about 900, much of Fiji was in the Tu’i Tongan Empire’s sphere of influence. The Tongan influence declined significantly by 1200 while Melanesian seafarers continued to periodically arrive in Fiji, further mixing Melanesian and Polynesian cultural traditions. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to spot Fiji in 1643, followed by British explorer James COOK in 1774. Captain William BLIGH plotted the islands in 1789. In the 1800s, merchants, traders, and whalers frequented the islands and the first missionaries arrived in 1835. Rival kings and chiefs competed for power, at times aided by Europeans and their weapons, and in 1865, Seru Epenisa CAKOBAU united many groups into the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti. The arrangement proved weak and in 1871 CAKOBAU formed the Kingdom of Fiji in an attempt to centralize power. Fearing a hostile takeover by a foreign power as the kingdom’s economy began to falter, CAKOBAU ceded Fiji to the UK in 1874.

The first British governor set up a plantation-style economy and brought in more than 60,000 Indians as indentured laborers, most of whom chose to stay in Fiji rather than return to India when their contracts expired. In the early 1900s, society was divided along ethnic lines, with iTaukei (indigenous Fijians), Europeans, and Indo-Fijians living in separate areas and maintaining their own languages and traditions. ITaukei fears of an Indo-Fijian takeover of government delayed independence through the 1960s; Fiji achieved independence in 1970 with agreements in place to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. Long-serving Prime Minister Kamisese MARA largely balanced these ethnic divisions but concerns about growing Indo-Fijian political influence led to two coups in 1987. A new constitution in 1990 cemented iTaukei control of politics, leading thousands of Indo-Fijians to leave. A reformed constitution in 1997 was more equitable and led to the election of an Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999, who was ousted in a coup the following year. In 2005, the new prime minister put forward a bill that would grant pardons to the coup perpetrators, leading Commodore Josaia BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA  appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and continues to hold the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible.

With well-developed infrastructure, Fiji has become a hub for the Pacific, hosting the secretariat for the Pacific Islands Forum and the main campus of the University of the South Pacific. In addition, Fiji is a center for Pacific tourism, and Nadi International Airport is by far the busiest airport in a Pacific island country.Austronesians settled Fiji around 1000 B.C., followed by successive waves of Melanesians starting around the first century A.D. Fijians traded with Polynesian groups in Samoa and Tonga, and by about 900, much of Fiji was in the Tu’i Tongan Empire’s sphere of influence. The Tongan influence declined significantly by 1200 while Melanesian seafarers continued to periodically arrive in Fiji, further mixing Melanesian and Polynesian cultural traditions. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to spot Fiji in 1643, followed by British explorer James COOK in 1774. Captain William BLIGH plotted the islands in 1789. In the 1800s, merchants, traders, and whalers frequented the islands and the first missionaries arrived in 1835. Rival kings and chiefs competed for power, at times aided by Europeans and their weapons, and in 1865, Seru Epenisa CAKOBAU united many groups into the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti. The arrangement proved weak and in 1871 CAKOBAU formed the Kingdom of Fiji in an attempt to centralize power. Fearing a hostile takeover by a foreign power as the kingdom’s economy began to falter, CAKOBAU ceded Fiji to the UK in 1874.

The first British governor set up a plantation-style economy and brought in more than 60,000 Indians as indentured laborers, most of whom chose to stay in Fiji rather than return to India when their contracts expired. In the early 1900s, society was divided along ethnic lines, with iTaukei (indigenous Fijians), Europeans, and Indo-Fijians living in separate areas and maintaining their own languages and traditions. ITaukei fears of an Indo-Fijian takeover of government delayed independence through the 1960s; Fiji achieved independence in 1970 with agreements in place to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. Long-serving Prime Minister Kamisese MARA largely balanced these ethnic divisions but concerns about growing Indo-Fijian political influence led to two coups in 1987. A new constitution in 1990 cemented iTaukei control of politics, leading thousands of Indo-Fijians to leave. A reformed constitution in 1997 was more equitable and led to the election of an Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999, who was ousted in a coup the following year. In 2005, the new prime minister put forward a bill that would grant pardons to the coup perpetrators, leading Commodore Josaia BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA  appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and continues to hold the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible.

With well-developed infrastructure, Fiji has become a hub for the Pacific, hosting the secretariat for the Pacific Islands Forum and the main campus of the University of the South Pacific. In addition, Fiji is a center for Pacific tourism, and Nadi International Airport is by far the busiest airport in a Pacific island country.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
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

land: 18,274 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation: highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 55.7% (2018 est.)

other: 21% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Geography - note: consists of 332 islands, approximately 110 of which are inhabited, and more than 500 islets
Map description: Fiji map showing the many islands that make up the country in the South Pacific Ocean.Fiji map showing the many islands that make up the country in the South Pacific Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 943,737 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Fijian(s)

adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups: iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 est.)

note: a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTaukei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji
Languages: English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)
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.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.86% (male 128,499/female 122,873)

15-24 years: 15.51% (male 73,993/female 71,139)

25-54 years: 41.05% (male 196,932/female 187,270)

55-64 years: 9.25% (male 43,813/female 42,763)

65 years and over: 7.34% (2020 est.) (male 31,556/female 37,136)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.4

youth dependency ratio: 44.5

elderly dependency ratio: 8.9

potential support ratio: 11.2 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 29.9 years

male: 29.7 years

female: 30.1 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.44% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 16.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.37 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization: urban population: 58.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 178,000 SUVA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 34 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 11.59 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.27 years

male: 71.6 years

female: 77.07 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.2% of population

rural: 89.1% of population

total: 94.3% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.8% of population

rural: 10.9% of population

total: 5.7% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 3.8% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.86 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,300 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.2% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: total population: 99.1%

male: 99.1%

female: 99.1% (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.4%

male: 11.9%

female: 22.4% (2016 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: the widespread practice of waste incineration is a major contributor to air pollution in the country, as are vehicle emissions in urban areas; deforestation and soil erosion are significant problems; a contributory factor to erosion is clearing of land by bush burning, a widespread practie that threatens biodiversity
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 10.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 2.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.95 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Land use: agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 55.7% (2018 est.)

other: 21% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 58.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.59% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 189,390 tons (2011 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 10,322 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.5% (2013 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 25.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 9.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 28.55 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
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
Government type: parliamentary 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)

etymology: the name means "little hill" in the native Fijian (iTaukei) language and refers to a mound where a temple once stood
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday: Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013

amendments: proposed as a bill by Parliament and supported by at least three quarters of its members, followed by referral to the president and then to the Electoral Commission, which conducts a referendum; passage requires approval by at least three-quarters of registered voters and assent by the president
Legal system: common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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: at least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021)

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 22 October 2021 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister endorsed by the president

election results: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president with 28 votes against 23 votes for Teimumu KEPA
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (51 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 14 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)

election results: percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 50%, SODELPA 39.6%, NFP 7.4%; seats by party - FijiFirst 27, SODELPA 21, NFP 3; composition - men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6%
Judicial branch: highest courts: 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 this requirement 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)
Political parties and leaders: FijiFirst [Veroqe "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
Unity Fiji [Adi QORO]
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, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akuila VUIRA

chancery: 1707 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320

FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325

email address and website:
info@FijiEmbassyDC.com

https://www.fijiembassydc.com/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Tony GREUBEL (since 20 January 2021); note - also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu

embassy: 158 Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva

mailing address: 4290 Suva Place, Washington DC  20521-4290

telephone: [679] 331-4466

FAX: [679] 330-2267

email address and website:
SuvaACS@state.gov

https://fj.usembassy.gov/
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
National symbol(s): Fijian canoe; national color: light blue
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 heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Levuka Historical Port Town

Topic: Economy
Economic 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 842,884 tourists visiting in 2017, and remittances from Fijian’s working abroad are the country’s largest foreign exchange earners.   Bottled water exports to the US is Fiji’s largest domestic export. 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. 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 2017 approached 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.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 842,884 tourists visiting in 2017, and remittances from Fijian’s working abroad are the country’s largest foreign exchange earners. Bottled water exports to the US is Fiji’s largest domestic export. 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. 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 2017 approached 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.86 billion (2020 est.)

$12.18 billion (2019 est.)

$12.23 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 3% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $11,000 (2020 est.)

$13,700 (2019 est.)

$13,800 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.891 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (2017 est.)

3.9% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 13.5% (2017 est.)

industry: 17.4% (2017 est.)

services: 69.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 81.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 24.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 29% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -51.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, taro, poultry, vegetables, coconuts, eggs, milk, ginger, sweet potatoes
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 353,100 (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44.2%

industry: 14.3%

services: 41.6% (2011)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (2017 est.)

5.5% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.4%

male: 11.9%

female: 22.4% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: 29.9% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.7 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%

highest 10%: 34.9% (2009 est.)
Budget: revenues: 1.454 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 1.648 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

47.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 29.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$277 million (2017 est.)

-$131 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.23 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.64 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 29%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 6%, Tonga 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: water, refined petroleum, fish, raw sugar, gold (2019)
Imports: $1.97 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.21 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Singapore 18%, Australia 13%, China 13.8%, New Zealand 11%, France 11%, South Korea 8% (2017)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, wheat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.116 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$908.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $1.022 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$696.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -

2.05955 (2020 est.)

2.17345 (2019 est.)

2.1104 (2018 est.)

2.0976 (2014 est.)

1.8874 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99.6% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 100% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 99.2% (2018)
Electricity - production: 914 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 850 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 338,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 34% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 38% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 17,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 48,510 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 991,500 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Fiji has a relatively sophisticated communications infrastructure with the highest mobile and Internet penetration in the Pacific Islands; aggressively developing LTE and 5G, though the pandemic negatively affected the economy, largely reliant on tourism; population is spread across more than 100 islands, yet most live on two main islands, with communications based on link by a submarine cable system; cables provide a secure link during natural disasters, protecting telecom connectivity; provider plans to expand fiber infrastructure to remote islands (2020)

domestic: fixed-line nearly 9 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 118 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 679; landing points for the ICN1, SCCN, Southern Cross NEXT, Tonga Cable and Tui-Samoa submarine cable links to US, NZ, Australia and Pacific islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Fallis & Futuna, and American Samoa; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: Fiji TV, a publicly traded company, operates a free-to-air channel; Digicel Fiji operates the 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
Internet country code: .fj
Internet users: total: 444,978 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 50% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 23,062 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,670,216 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 106.83 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: DQ
Airports: total: 28 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 19 (2021)
Railways: total: 597 km (2008)

narrow gauge: 597 km (2008) 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
Roadways: total: 3,440 km (2011)

paved: 1,686 km (2011)

unpaved: 1,754 km (2011)
Waterways: 203 km (2012) (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges)
Merchant marine: total: 73

by type: general cargo 20, oil tanker 4, other 49 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Lautoka, Levuka, Suva

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF): Land Force Command, Maritime Command; Fiji Police Force (2021)

the RFMF is subordinate to the president as the commander in chief, while the Fiji Police Force reports to the the Ministry of Defense, National Security, and Policing
Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $160 million)

1.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $160 million)

1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $150 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) have about 3,500 personnel (3,200 Land Force; 300 Maritime Command) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RFMF is lightly armed and equipped; Australia has provided patrol boats and a few armored personnel carriers; it also provides logistical support for RFMF regional or UN operations; in recent years, China has provided construction equipment and military vehicles (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2021)
Military deployments: 170 Egypt (MFO); 160 Iraq (UNAMI); 150 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2022)
Military - note: the RFMF has a history of intervening in the country’s politics since the late 1980s, including coups in 1987 and 2006, and a mutiny in 2000 the RFMF also has a long tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations; since its first deployment of troops to South Lebanon in 1978 under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), it has deployed troops on nearly 20 additional UN missionsthe RFMF has a history of intervening in the country’s politics since the late 1980s, including coups in 1987 and 2006, and a mutiny in 2000the RFMF also has a long tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations; since its first deployment of troops to South Lebanon in 1978 under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), it has deployed troops on nearly 20 additional UN missions

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Tonga
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Fiji and Fijians abroad; Fijian women and children and victims from Thailand and China are sex trafficked in illegal brothels, local hotels, private homes, and massage parlors; Fijian children sent to live with families in larger cities are vulnerable to forced labor or sexual activity in exchange for food, clothing, shelter, or school fees; labor traffickers exploit Southeast Asian workers on small informal farms and factories and in construction; Southeast Asian fisherman may be subject to forced labor on Fijian-flagged ships or foreign-flagged ships transiting Fijian ports and water

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Fiji does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities maintained anti-trafficking law enforcement, investigating a similar number of cases as the prior year and convicting a trafficker for the first time since 2014; a government-convened working group finalized an updated anti-trafficking national action plan; however, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts; law enforcement was often unaware of the definition of trafficking, procedures for interviewing victims, and how to proactively screen vulnerable populations for trafficking victims; inspectors did not adequately investigate labor violations for trafficking indicators or provide adequate support to victims (2020)


This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.

Topic: Afghanistan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Albania18 years of age; universal

Topic: Algeria18 years of age; universal

Topic: American Samoa18 years of age; universal

Topic: Andorra18 years of age; universal

Topic: Angola18 years of age; universal

Topic: Anguilla18 years of age; universal

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda18 years of age; universal

Topic: Argentina18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age - optional for national elections

Topic: Armenia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Aruba18 years of age; universal

Topic: Australia18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Austria16 years of age; universal

Topic: Azerbaijan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Bahamas, The18 years of age; universal

Topic: Bahrain20 years of age; universal

Topic: Bangladesh18 years of age; universal

Topic: Barbados18 years of age; universal

Topic: Belarus18 years of age; universal

Topic: Belgium18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Belize18 years of age; universal

Topic: Benin18 years of age; universal

Topic: Bermuda18 years of age; universal

Topic: Bhutan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Bolivia18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Topic: Botswana18 years of age; universal

Topic: Brazilvoluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts by law cannot vote

Topic: British Virgin Islands18 years of age; universal

Topic: Brunei18 years of age for village elections; universal

Topic: Bulgaria18 years of age; universal

Topic: Burkina Faso18 years of age; universal

Topic: Burma18 years of age; universal

Topic: Burundi18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cabo Verde18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cambodia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cameroon20 years of age; universal

Topic: Canada18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cayman Islands18 years of age; universal

Topic: Central African Republic18 years of age; universal

Topic: Chad18 years of age; universal

Topic: Chile18 years of age; universal

Topic: China18 years of age; universal

Topic: Christmas Island18 years of age

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands18 years of age

Topic: Colombia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Comoros18 years of age; universal

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Congo, Republic of the18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cook Islands18 years of age; universal

Topic: Costa Rica18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire18 years of age; universal

Topic: Croatia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cuba16 years of age; universal

Topic: Curacao18 years of age; universal18 years of age; universal

Topic: Cyprus18 years of age; universal

Topic: Czechia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Denmark18 years of age; universal

Topic: Djibouti18 years of age; universal

Topic: Dominica18 years of age; universal

Topic: Dominican Republic18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote

Topic: Ecuador18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary

Topic: Egypt18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: El Salvador18 years of age; universal

Topic: Equatorial Guinea18 years of age; universal

Topic: Eritrea18 years of age; universal

Topic: Estonia18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections

Topic: Eswatini18 years of age

Topic: Ethiopia18 years of age; universal

Topic: European Union18 years of age (16 years in Austria); universal; voting for the European Parliament is permitted in each member state

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)18 years of age; universal

Topic: Faroe Islands18 years of age; universal

Topic: Fiji18 years of age; universal

Topic: Finland18 years of age; universal

Topic: France18 years of age; universal

Topic: French Polynesia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Gabon18 years of age; universal

Topic: Gambia, The18 years of age; universal

Topic: Georgia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Germany18 years of age; universal; age 16 for some state and municipal elections

Topic: Ghana18 years of age; universal

Topic: Gibraltar18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more

Topic: Greece17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Greenland18 years of age; universal

Topic: Grenada18 years of age; universal

Topic: Guam18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Topic: Guatemala18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Topic: Guernsey16 years of age; universal

Topic: Guinea18 years of age; universal

Topic: Guinea-Bissau18 years of age; universal

Topic: Guyana18 years of age; universal

Topic: Haiti18 years of age; universal

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Topic: Honduras18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Hong Kong18 years of age in direct elections for half of the Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and a 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

Topic: Hungary18 years of age, 16 if married and marriage is registered in Hungary; universal

Topic: Iceland18 years of age; universal

Topic: India18 years of age; universal

Topic: Indonesia17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age

Topic: Iran18 years of age; universal

Topic: Iraq18 years of age; universal

Topic: Ireland18 years of age; universal

Topic: Isle of Man16 years of age; universal

Topic: Israel18 years of age; universal; 17 years of age for municipal elections

Topic: Italy18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25

Topic: Jamaica18 years of age; universal

Topic: Japan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Jersey16 years of age; universal

Topic: Jordan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Kazakhstan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Kenya18 years of age; universal

Topic: Kiribati18 years of age; universal

Topic: Korea, North17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Korea, South18years of age; universal; note - the voting age was lowered from 19 to 18 beginning with the 2020 national election

Topic: Kosovo18 years of age; universal

Topic: Kuwait21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship

Topic: Kyrgyzstan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Laos18 years of age; universal

Topic: Latvia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Lebanon21 years of age; authorized for all men and women regardless of religion; excludes persons convicted of felonies and other crimes or those imprisoned; excludes all military and security service personnel regardless of rank

Topic: Lesotho18 years of age; universal

Topic: Liberia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Libya18 years of age, universal

Topic: Liechtenstein18 years of age; universal

Topic: Lithuania18 years of age; universal

Topic: Luxembourg18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Macau18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past 7 years; note - indirect elections are limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" and an election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials

Topic: Madagascar18 years of age; universal

Topic: Malawi18 years of age; universal

Topic: Malaysia18 years of age; universal (2019)

Topic: Maldives18 years of age; universal

Topic: Mali18 years of age; universal

Topic: Malta18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal

Topic: Marshall Islands18 years of age; universal

Topic: Mauritania18 years of age; universal

Topic: Mauritius18 years of age; universal

Topic: Mexico18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of18 years of age; universal

Topic: Moldova18 years of age; universal

Topic: Monaco18 years of age; universal

Topic: Mongolia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Montenegro18 years of age; universal

Topic: Montserrat18 years of age; universal

Topic: Morocco18 years of age; universal

Topic: Mozambique18 years of age; universal

Topic: Namibia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Nauru20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Nepal18 years of age; universal

Topic: Netherlands18 years of age; universal

Topic: New Caledonia18 years of age; universal

Topic: New Zealand18 years of age; universal

Topic: Nicaragua16 years of age; universal

Topic: Niger18 years of age; universal

Topic: Nigeria18 years of age; universal

Topic: Niue18 years of age; universal

Topic: Norfolk Island18 years of age; universal

Topic: North Macedonia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Northern Mariana Islands18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Topic: Norway18 years of age; universal

Topic: Oman21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

Topic: Pakistan18 years of age; universal; note - there are joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Topic: Palau18 years of age; universal

Topic: Panama18 years of age; universal

Topic: Papua New Guinea18 years of age; universal

Topic: Paraguay18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75

Topic: Peru18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70

Topic: Philippines18 years of age; universal

Topic: Pitcairn Islands18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Topic: Poland18 years of age; universal

Topic: Portugal18 years of age; universal

Topic: Puerto Rico18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Topic: Qatar18 years of age; universal

Topic: Romania18 years of age; universal

Topic: Russia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Rwanda18 years of age; universal

Topic: Saint Barthelemy18 years of age, universal

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha18 years of age

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis18 years of age; universal

Topic: Saint Lucia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Saint Martin18 years of age, universal

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon18 years of age; universal

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines18 years of age; universal

Topic: Samoa21 years of age; universal

Topic: San Marino18 years of age; universal

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe18 years of age; universal

Topic: Saudi Arabia18 years of age; restricted to males; universal for municipal elections

Topic: Senegal18 years of age; universal

Topic: Serbia18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Topic: Seychelles18 years of age; universal

Topic: Sierra Leone18 years of age; universal

Topic: Singapore21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Sint Maarten18 years of age; universal18 years of age; universal

Topic: Slovakia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Slovenia18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Topic: Solomon Islands21 years of age; universal

Topic: Somalia18 years of age; universal

Topic: South Africa18 years of age; universal

Topic: South Sudan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Spain18 years of age; universal

Topic: Sri Lanka18 years of age; universal

Topic: Sudan17 years of age; universal

Topic: Suriname18 years of age; universal

Topic: Sweden18 years of age; universal

Topic: Switzerland18 years of age; universal

Topic: Syria18 years of age; universal

Topic: Taiwan20 years of age; universal; note - in mid-2016, the Legislative Yuan drafted a constitutional amendment to reduce the voting age to 18, but it has not passed as of December 2017

Topic: Tajikistan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Tanzania18 years of age; universal

Topic: Thailand18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Timor-Leste17 years of age; universal

Topic: Togo18 years of age; universal

Topic: Tokelau21 years of age; universal

Topic: Tonga21 years of age; universal

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago18 years of age; universal

Topic: Tunisia18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months

Topic: Turkey18 years of age; universal

Topic: Turkmenistan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands18 years of age; universal

Topic: Tuvalu18 years of age; universal

Topic: Uganda18 years of age; universal

Topic: Ukraine18 years of age; universal

Topic: United Arab Emirateslimited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

Topic: United Kingdom18 years of age; universal

Topic: United States18 years of age; universal

Topic: Uruguay18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Topic: Uzbekistan18 years of age; universal

Topic: Vanuatu18 years of age; universal

Topic: Venezuela18 years of age; universal

Topic: Vietnam18 years of age; universal

Topic: Virgin Islands18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Topic: Wallis and Futuna18 years of age; universal

Topic: Yemen18 years of age; universal

Topic: Zambia18 years of age; universal

Topic: Zimbabwe18 years of age; universal