Fiji
Country Guide

Explore Fiji

Fiji with its capital Suva is located in Oceania (Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean). It covers some 18,275 square kilometers (slightly smaller than New Jersey) with 920,938 citizens. English and Fijian are the languages commonly used by the people in Fiji. This country shares no land borders with another country.

Fiji is a Melanesian country in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand and consists of an archipelago that includes 332 islands, a handful of which make up most of the land area, and approximately 110 of which are inhabited. Fiji is the product of volcanic mountains and warm tropical waters. Its majestic and ever-varied coral reefs today draw tourists from around the world. Climate: Tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation. Tropical cyclonic storms (The South Pacific version of Hurricanes) can occur from November to April. Temperature sensitive visitors may wish to visit during the Southern Hemisphere winter.

Popular Destinations in Fiji

Administrative regions of Fiji

• Central
• Eastern
• Northern
• Rotuma
• Western

About the country

The landscape is mostly mountains of volcanic origin. The average density of population is about 50 per km². The climate in Fiji can be described as tropical marine with only slight seasonal temperature variation. Potential threats by nature are cyclonic storms can occur from November to January.

To reach someone Fiji dial +679 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".fj". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 240 V - 50 Hz (plugs: I). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is FJD.

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.

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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 157)	18,274	sq km
Land (World Rank: 155)	18,274	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 131)	9.60	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than New Jersey
Coastline
1129
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 152)	1,324	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 152)	23.30	%
Arable (World Rank: 121)	9.00	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 57)	4.70	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 131)	9.60	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 152)	40	sq km
Map reference
Oceania
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - soil erosion
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Location
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Climate
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
mostly mountains of volcanic origin

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 160)	920,938
Deathrate (World Rank: 159)	0.61	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 90)	1.86	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 148)	0.60	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 166)	-0.65	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 81)	2.41	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 123)	28.70
Female (World Rank: 123)	29.10
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 160)	130,394
0 14 female (World Rank: 160)	124,734
15 24 male (World Rank: 162)	75,803
15 24 female (World Rank: 162)	72,774
25 54 male (World Rank: 159)	193,700
25 54 female (World Rank: 161)	184,629
55 64 male (World Rank: 158)	39,853
55 64 female (World Rank: 158)	38,748
65 x male (World Rank: 159)	27,714
65 x female (World Rank: 160)	32,589
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 140)	0.95	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 140)	73	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 134)	76	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 137)	70	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 131)	0.44
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 106)	2.00
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 92)	91.10	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 24)	30.20	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 105)	95.70	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 153)	890,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 159)	827,700,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 173)	36.00	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 49)	39.00	%
Source renew (World Rank: 20)	25.20	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 146)	16,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 126)	15,970	bbl / day
Carbon footprint
1700000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 109)	4	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 116)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 155)	5	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 113)	-3	% of GDP
National symbol
national color: light blue
Adjective
Fijian
Noun
Fijian(s)
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.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 162)	8,188,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 182)	0.40	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 138)	9,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 83)	10.70	%
Source industry (World Rank: 164)	18.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 59)	71.30	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 160)	351,300
In poverty (World Rank: 57)	31.00	%
Products
Industries	- clothing - copra - gold - lumber - silver - small cottage industries - sugar processing - tourism
Agriculture	- bananas - cassava - cattle - coconuts - fish - goats - horses - manioc - pigs - rice - sugarcane - sweet potatoes - tapioca
Exports	- coconut oil - fish - garments - gold - mineral water - molasses - sugar - timber
Imports	- chemicals - food - machinery - manufactured goods - petroleum products - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 147)	74,182
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 139)	8.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 133)	101.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 150)	425,680
Population (World Rank: 128)	46.50	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 156)	4.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 95)	24.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 110)	597
Road
Total length (World Rank: 162)	3,440
Paved length (World Rank: 131)	1,686
Unpaved length (World Rank: 119)	1,754
Water
Total length (World Rank: 99)	203.00

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