Fiji Islands

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Fiji Islands

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Matanitu Ko Viti/Republic of the Fiji Islands Area 18,333 sq km/7,078 sq mi Capital Suva Language English (official), Fijian, Hindi Religion Methodist 37%, Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, Roman Catholic 8%, Sikh Time difference GMT +12 Major holidays 1 January, 12 October, 25–26 December; variable: Diwali, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Holy Saturday, Prophet's Birthday, August Bank Holiday, Queen's Birthday (June), Prince Charles's Birthday (November)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Lautoka, Nadi, Ba, Labasa, Nausori, Lami Major ports Lautoka, Levuka Physical features comprises about 844 Melanesian and Polynesian islands and islets (about 100 inhabited), the largest being Viti Levu (10,429 sq km/4,028 sq mi) and Vanua Levu (5,556 sq km/2,146 sq mi); mountainous, volcanic, with tropical rainforest and grasslands; almost all islands surrounded by coral reefs; high volcanic peaks Airports two international airports and 15 other airfields; total passengers carried: 613,000 (2001 est) Railways no passenger railway system; Fiji Sugar Cane Corporation operates a 595-km/370-mi railway Roads total road network: 3,440 km/2,138 mi, of which 49.2% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 12.6 per 1,000 people (1998 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Ratu Josefa Iloilo from 2000 Head of government Frank Bainimarama from 2007 Political system military Political executive military Administrative divisions 14 provinces Political parties National Federation Party (NFP), moderate left of centre, Indian; Fijian Labour Party (FLP), left of centre, Indian; United Front, Fijian; Fijian Political Party (FPP), Fijian centrist Death penalty abolished for ordinary crimes in 1979; laws provide for the death penalty for exceptional crimes, such as crimes committed in wartime Armed forces 3,500; plus 6,000 reservists (2006 est) Conscription military service is voluntary Defence spend (% GDP) 1.6 (2004 est) Education spend (% GDP) 5.6 (2002 est) Health spend (% GDP) 2.3 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Fiji dollar GDP (US$) 2.8 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 2.6 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 2.8 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 5,960 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 4.2% (2006 est) Unemployment 14.1% (2003) Labour force 38.4% agriculture, 30% industry, 31.6% services (2003 est) Foreign debt (US$) 267 million (2005 est) Major trading partners Australia, Singapore New Zealand, Japan, UK, USA, Pacific islands Resources gold, silver, copper Industries food processing (sugar, molasses, and copra), ready-made garments, animal feed, cigarettes, cement, tourism Exports sugar, clothing, gold, fish and fish products, re-exported petroleum products, timber. Principal market: Australia 20.3% (2005) Imports mineral fuels, basic manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, food. Principal source: Singapore 29.9% (2005) Arable land 10.9% (2002 est) Agricultural products sugar cane, coconuts, ginger, rice, tobacco, cocoa; forestry (for timber)


POPULATION

Population 854,400 (2006 est) Population growth rate 1.7% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 47 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 53 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 32%, 15–59 62%, 60+ 6% (2005 est) Ethnic groups 51% Fijians (of Melanesian and Polynesian descent), 44% Indian Life expectancy 67 (men); 71 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 20 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 10 Literacy rate 95% (men); 92% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 3.4 (2004 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 0.1 (2005 est) AIDS deaths <100 (2005 est)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 12.4 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 16.8 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 677 (1999 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 117 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 5.2 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 7.2 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

c. 1500 BC Peopled by Polynesian and, later, by Melanesian settlers. 1643 The islands were visited for the first time by a European, the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman. 1830s Arrival of Western Christian missionaries. 1840s–50s Western Fiji came under dominance of a Christian convert prince, Cakobau, ruler of Bau islet, who proclaimed himself Tui Viti (King of Fiji), while the east was controlled by Ma'afu, a Christian prince from Tonga. 1857 British consul appointed, encouraging settlers from Australia and New Zealand to set up cotton farms in Fiji. 1874 Fiji became a British crown colony after a deed of cession was signed by King Cakobau. 1875–76 A third of the Fijian population were wiped out by a measles epidemic; a rebellion against the British was suppressed with the assistance of Fijian chiefs. 1877 Fiji became the headquarters of the British Western Pacific High Commission (WPHC), which controlled other British protectorates in the Pacific region. 1879–1916 Indian labourers brought in, on ten-year indentured contracts, to work sugar plantations. 1904 Legislative Council formed, with elected Europeans and nominated Fijians, to advise the British governor. 1963 Legislative Council enlarged; women and Fijians enfranchised. Predominantly Fijian Alliance Party (AP) formed. 1970 Independence achieved from Britain; Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara of the AP elected as first prime minister. 1973 Ratu Sir George Cakobau, great-grandson of the chief who had sworn allegiance to the British in 1874, became governor general. 1985 Fijian Labour Party (FLP) formed by Timoci Bavadra, with trade-union backing. 1987 After general election had brought to power Indian-dominated coalition led by Bavadra, Lt-Col Sitiveni Rabuka seized power in military coup, and proclaimed a Fijian-dominated republic outside the Commonwealth. 1990 New constitution, favouring indigenous (Melanese) Fijians, introduced. Civilian rule re-established. Military officers resigned from cabinet; Rabuka stayed on as home secretary, and Mara as prime minister. 1992 General election produced coalition government with Rabuka of Fijian Political Party (FPP) as prime minister. 1994 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara became president. 1997 Non-discriminatory constitution introduced. Fiji readmitted to the Commonwealth. 1999 President Mara's term in office renewed for additional five years. Mahendra Chaudhry became Fiji's first prime minister of Indian descent. 2000 Coup led by George Speight took cabinet members hostage and ended Mara's presidency, aiming to make indigenous Fijians dominant political force. Commonwealth suspended Fiji. When hostages released, Great Council of Chiefs appointed Ratu Josefa Iloilo president. Speight and 369 supporters arrested and charged with treason. High court later ruled that Chaudhry's deposed government be reinstated. 2001 President Iloilo appointed interim government. Elections restored democracy; Speight became member of parliament. Indigenous prime minister Laisenia Qarase sworn in. Speight expelled from parliament for failing to attend sessions. Commonwealth readmitted Fiji. 2002 Coup leader George Speight given death sentence; commuted by President Iloilo to life imprisonment. Government announced privatization plan to save vital sugar industry from threat posed by withdrawal of European Union (EU) subsidies. 2004 Fijian soldiers left for peacekeeping duties in Iraq. 2006 President Iloilo elected to second five-year term by Great Council of Chiefs. Incumbent prime minister Laesenia Qarase narrowly won re-election. Tensions between Qarase and military chief Frank Bainimarama; Bainimarama threatened to oust government and Qarase went into hiding. Bainimarama took executive powers and dismissed prime minister. Commonwealth suspended Fiji because of coup. 2007 Executive powers restored to President Iloilo by Bainimarama, who announced elections would be be held in 2010. Bainimarama sacked Great Council of Chiefs in April, suspending all future meetings. State of emergency lifted in May.


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