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Fiji Country Guide

Explore Fiji in Oceania

Fiji with the capital city Suva is located in Oceania (Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean). It covers some 18,270 square kilometres (slightly smaller than New Jersey) with 931,000 citizens.

Interactive map of Fiji

The terrain features mostly mountains of volcanic origin. The average density of population is approximately 51 per km². The notable climate conditions in Fiji can be described as tropical marine with only slight seasonal temperature variation. Potential natural disasters are cyclonic storms can occur from November to January.

To reach someone in Fiji dial +679 prior to a number. There are 136,800 installed telephones. And there are 640,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".fj". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 240V - 50Hz.

About the flag and history of Fiji

Fiji Flag Icon

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.


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 initially refused to hold elections. In 2012, he promised to hold elections in 2014.

National administrative regions of Fiji



Geography Quick-Facts

SummaryContinent: Oceania
Neighbours:
Capital: Suva
Size18,270 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 7,054 square miles (mi² or sqmi)
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Population931,000
CurrencyName Dollar, Currency Code:FJD
Country Top Level Domain (cTLD).fj
Telephone Country Prefix+679
Mobile Phone Connections640,000
Landline Phone Connections136,800

Country Position in World Rankings

Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).

Geography

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Area18,274 (sq km)157

People and Society

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Population896,758 161
Population growth rate0.73 (%)139
Birth rate20.28 (births/1,000 population)85
Death rate5.96 (deaths/1,000 population)164
Net migration rate-6.99 (migrant(s)/1,000 population)199
Maternal mortality rate26.00 (deaths/100,000 live births)129
Infant mortality rate10.46 (deaths/1,000 live births)141
Life expectancy at birth71.87 (years)139
Total fertility rate2.54 (children born/woman)82
Health expenditures4.90 (% of GDP)146
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate0.10 (%)128
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS1,000 141
HIV/AIDS - deaths100 132
Obesity - adult prevalence rate30.60 (%)25
Education expenditures4.10 (% of GDP)106

Economy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
GDP (purchasing power parity)4,373,000,000 174
GDP - real growth rate2.10 (%)131
GDP - per capita (PPP)4,900 162
Labor force335,000 163
Unemployment rate7.60 (%)86
Taxes and other revenues25.10 (% of GDP)122
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)-4.20 (% of GDP)142
Public debt47.90 (% of GDP)70
Inflation rate (consumer prices)4.70 (%)133
Central bank discount rate3.00 (%)104
Commercial bank prime lending rate7.47 (%)123
Stock of narrow money794,600,000 154
Stock of broad money2,495,000,000 147
Stock of domestic credit1,786,000,000 140
Market value of publicly traded shares1,404,000,000 103
Industrial production growth rate-0.10 (%)149
Current account balance-493,400,000 95
Exports991,600,000 158
Imports1,938,000,000 164
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold1,007,000,000 137
Debt - external268,000,000 181

Energy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Electricity - production869,100,000 (kWh)152
Electricity - consumption753,400,000 (kWh)158
Electricity - installed generating capacity219,100 (kW)155
Electricity - from fossil fuels54.80 (% of total installed capacity)147
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants38.80 (% of total installed capacity)57
Electricity - from other renewable sources6.40 (% of total installed capacity)32
Refined petroleum products - consumption17,810 (bbl/day)136
Refined petroleum products - exports1,739 (bbl/day)105
Refined petroleum products - imports16,110 (bbl/day)113
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy2,500,000 (Mt)146

Communications

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Telephones - main lines in use129,800 142
Telephones - mobile cellular727,000 160
Internet hosts21,739 115
Internet users114,200 157

Transportation

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Airports28 120
Railways597 (km)108
Roadways3,440 (km)162
Waterways203 (km)98
Merchant marine11 108

Military

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Military expenditures1.60 (% of GDP)88

Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases

List of current world heritage sites

NameSince
Levuka Historical Port Town
The town and its low line of buildings set among coconut and mango trees along the beach front was the first colonial capital of Fiji, ceded to the British in 1874. It developed from the early 19th century as a centre of commercial activity by Americ ...
2013