Fiji

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.

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.

18 00 S, 175 00 E

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

slightly smaller than New Jersey

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

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

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

1,129 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 17.1% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 4.2% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 3.4% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 9.5% (2022 est.)

Forest: 63.1% (2022 est.)

Other: 19.8% (2022 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Note: Measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

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

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

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

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

Oceania

40 sq km (2012)

28.55 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Total : 18,274 sq km

Land: 18,274 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 119,910/female 114,904)

15-64 years: 66.4% (male 323,339/female 308,921)

65 years and over: 8.9% (2024 est.) (male 39,055/female 45,482)

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Fijian(s)

Adjective: Fijian

Urban population: 58.7% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)

178,000 SUVA (capital) (2018)

0.81 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

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

Total dependency ratio: 50.5 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 37.1 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 13.4 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 7.5 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

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

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.)

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

5.4% of GDP (2021)

10.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Female: 92.4% (2021 est.)

Women married by age 15: 0.2% (2021)

Women married by age 18: 4% (2021)

Men married by age 18: 1.7% (2021)

1.08 (2024 est.)

58.8% (2023 est.)

Total: 15.5% (2024 est.)

Male: 11.8% (2024 est.)

Female: 22.5% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-5.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 31.6 years (2024 est.)

Male: 31.4 years

Female: 31.8 years

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

2.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 951,611 (2024 est.)

Male: 482,304

Female: 469,307

Total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 26.8% (2025 est.)

Male: 40.8% (2025 est.)

Female: 12.9% (2025 est.)

30.2% (2016)

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

15.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

4.6% (2021)

Total: 2.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 74.8 years (2024 est.)

Male: 72.2 years

Female: 77.6 years

4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

11.6% national budget (2024 est.)

0.4% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 25.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 9.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 189,400 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.1% (2022 est.)

8.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

1.432 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 12 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 1.432 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

25.375 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 24 November 2022); 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/

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

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 language and may refer to a mound where a temple once stood

History: Several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013

Amendment process: 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

Chief of state: President Ratu Naiqama LALABALAVU (since 12 November 2024)

Head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA (since 24 December 2022)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament

Election/appointment process: President elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister endorsed by the president

Most recent election date: 31 October 2024

Election results:
2024: Ratu Naiqama LALABALAVU elected president (People's Alliance) 35 votes, Meli Tora TAVAIQIA (Fiji First) 14 votes

2021: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president; Wiliame KATONIVERE (People's Alliance) 28 votes, Teimumu KEPA (SODELPA) 23 votes

Expected date of next election: 2027

Description: 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

Meaning: Blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean

10 October 1970 (from the UK)

Highest court(s): 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 on the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission after consulting with the cabinet minister and the House of Representatives committee 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 or more than 7 years, with mandatory retirement at age 65

Subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)

common law system based on the English model

Legislature name: Parliament

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 55 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 12/14/2022

Parties elected and seats per party: FijiFirst (26); People's Alliance (21); National Federation Party (NFP) (5); Social Democratic Liberal Party (Soldelpa) (3)

Percentage of women in chamber: 9.1%

Expected date of next election: December 2026

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

Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)

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

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

Conventional long form: Republic of Fiji

Conventional short form: Fiji

Local long form: Republic of Fiji (English)/ Matanitu ko Viti (Fijian)

Local short form: Fiji (English)/ Viti (Fijian)

Etymology: The Fijians called their home Viti, but the neighboring Tongans called it Fisi; in the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation -- promulgated by explorer Captain James COOK -- the designation became Fiji

Chief of mission: Ambassador Ilisoni VUIDREKETI (since 17 June 2024)

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

Telephone: [1] (917) 208-4560

FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325

Email address and website:
Info@FijiEmbassyDC.com

https://www.fijiembassydc.com/

Title: "God Bless Fiji" (Let Us Show Pride)

Lyrics/music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)

History: 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 usually used, although they differ in meaning from the official Fijian lyrics

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Fijian canoe

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

Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Levuka Historical Port Town

light blue

24.1% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 3.5% (2019 est.)

Highest 10%: 24.2% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $1.345 billion (2023 est.)

Expenditures: $1.562 billion (2023 est.)

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
2.268 (2024 est.)
2.25 (2023 est.)
2.201 (2022 est.)
2.071 (2021 est.)
2.169 (2020 est.)

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

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

$5.841 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 71.7% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 20.8% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 18.6% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 1.2% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 57% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -69.2% (2023 est.)

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

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

9.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
9.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
9.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

387,800 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$1.397 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$1.6 billion (2024 est.)
$1.548 billion (2023 est.)
$1.557 billion (2022 est.)

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

4.4% (2024 est.)
4.4% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$13.1 billion (2024 est.)
$12.617 billion (2023 est.)
$11.734 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

4.5% (2024 est.)
2.3% (2023 est.)
4.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$865.665 million (2022 est.)
-$686.577 million (2021 est.)
-$614.13 million (2020 est.)

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

$14,100 (2024 est.)
$13,700 (2023 est.)
$12,800 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$3.434 billion (2022 est.)
$2.344 billion (2021 est.)
$1.977 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$2.376 billion (2022 est.)
$1.171 billion (2021 est.)
$1.23 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

3.8% (2024 est.)
7.5% (2023 est.)
19.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

7.3% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 8.4% (2024 est.)

Industry: 14.1% (2024 est.)

Services: 56.2% (2024 est.)

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

Electrification - total population: 92% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 97.6%

Electrification - rural areas: 86.8%

Consumption: 6 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 2 metric tons (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels: 36.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 52.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Biomass and waste: 10% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 10,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 427,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 1.048 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 102.047 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 79% (2023 est.)

.fj

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

Total subscriptions: 992,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2021 est.)

Total: 23,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions: 49,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2022 est.)

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

DQ

26 (2025)

Total: 74 (2023)

By type: General cargo 21, oil tanker 4, other 49

2 (2025)

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2024)

Note: As of 2024, women comprised approximately 8% of the Fiji Military Forces

1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

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

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)

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

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)

170 Egypt (MFO); 160 Iraq (UNAMI); 150 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2024)

Refugees: 25 (2024 est.)

IDPs: 259 (2024 est.)

Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Fiji remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/fiji/

Total ports: 5 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 2

Very small: 3

Ports with oil terminals: 4

Key ports: Lautoka Harbor, Levuka, Malai, Savusavu Bay, Suva Harbor

30.7 (2019 est.)

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