Fiji

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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. The first European spotted Fiji in 1643 and by the 1800s, European merchants, missionaries, traders, and whalers frequented the islands. Rival kings and chiefs competed for power, at times aided by Europeans, and in 1865, Seru Epenisa CAKOBAU united many groups into the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti. The arrangement proved weak, however, 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.<br><br>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 to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. After 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 Josaia Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and retained the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible. BAINIMARAMA's party lost control of the prime minister position after elections in 2022 with former opposition leader Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA winning the office by a narrow margin.

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Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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18 00 S, 175 00 E

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Oceania

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slightly smaller than New Jersey

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1,129 km

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<strong>note: </strong>measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

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tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

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mostly mountains of volcanic origin

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

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40 sq km (2012)

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

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cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

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consists of 332 islands, approximately 110 of which are inhabited, and more than 500 islets

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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.)

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<strong>note:</strong> a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTaukei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji

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English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)

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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.)

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0.38% (2025 est.)

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15.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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178,000 SUVA (capital) (2018)

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30 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.06 (2025 est.)

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0.81 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

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1.9 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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30.2% (2016)

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4.6% (2021 est.)

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59.2% (2021 est.)

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air pollution from waste incineration and vehicle emissions; deforestation and soil erosion; soil erosion from clearing land by bush burning

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tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

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8.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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28.55 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary republic

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14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu

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common law system based on the English model

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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Fiji First <br>Fiji Labor Party or FLP <br>Freedom Alliance (formerly Fiji United Freedom Party or FUFP)<br>National Federation Party or NFP <br>People's Alliance <br>Peoples Democratic Party or PDP <br>Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA <br>Unity Fiji

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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

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10 October 1970 (from the UK)

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Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)

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<strong>description:</strong> light blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the right half of the flag; the shield shows a yellow lion holding a coconut above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict sugarcane, a palm tree, a banana bunch, and a white dove<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean

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Fijian canoe

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light blue

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upper-middle income, tourism-based Pacific island economy; susceptible to ocean rises; key energy and infrastructure investments; post-pandemic tourism resurgence; improved debt standing; limited workforce

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$5.841 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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sugarcane, cassava, taro, vegetables, chicken, coconuts, eggs, ginger, milk, sweet potatoes (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber

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7.3% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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387,800 (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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24.1% (2019 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 32%, Australia 12%, Tonga 6%, NZ 6%, Samoa 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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water, fish, raw sugar, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Singapore 25%, China 16%, Australia 15%, NZ 14%, USA 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, medical instruments, cars, broadcasting equipment, plastics (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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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, including 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

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.fj

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DQ

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26 (2025)

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2 (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to December

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Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Force, Republic of Fiji Navy (2025)

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approximately 4,000 active Republic of Fiji Military Forces (2025)

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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 and the US have provided small amounts of equipment (2025)

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18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2026)

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170 Egypt (MFO); 160 Iraq (UNAMI); 150 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)

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the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) are responsible for external security but can be assigned some domestic security responsibilities in specific circumstances; the RFMF has a history of intervening in the country’s politics, and it continues to have significant political power; it also has a tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, which have offered experience and a source of financial support; Fiji has sent troops on nearly 20 such missions since first deploying personnel to South Lebanon in 1978<br><br>Fiji has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Fiji's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)