Fiji
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See regional map X
Geography
Total area: 18,270 km²; land area: 18,270
km²
Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
- Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
- Extended economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper; offshore oil potential
Land use: 8% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 65% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are in- habited
Note: located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 759,567 (July 1990), growth
rate 1.5% (1990)
Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: -7 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 70 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Fijian(s); adjective—Fijian
Ethnic divisions: 49% Indian, 46% Fijian, 5% European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and others
Religion: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu with a Muslim minority
Language: English (official); Fijian; Hindustani
Literacy: 80%
Labor force: 176,000; 60% subsistence agriculture, 40% wage earners (1979)
Organized labor: about 45,000 employees belong to some 46 trade unions, which are organized along lines of work and ethnic origin (1983)
Government
Long-form name: Republic of Fiji
Type: military coup leader Major General Sitiveni Rabuka formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital: Suva
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); note—a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and awaits final approval
Legal system: based on British system
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the proposed constitution of NA September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State—President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987);
Head of Government—Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5 December 1987); note—Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara served as prime minister from 10 October 1970 until the 5-11 April 1987 election; after a second coup led by Major General Sitiveni Rabuka on 25 September 1987, Ratu Mara was reappointed as prime minister
Political parties and leaders: Alliance, primarily Fijian, Ratu Mara; National Federation, primarily Indian, Siddiq Koya; Western United Front, Fijian, Ratu Osea Gavidi; Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini Bavadra; coalition of the National Federation Party and the Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini Vuikaba Bavadra
Suffrage: none
Elections: none
Communists: some
Member of: ACP, ADB, Colombo Plan, EC (associate), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Counselor (Commercial), Vice Consul, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Abdul H. YUSUF; Chancery at Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 337-8320; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York; US—Ambassador Leonard ROCHWARGER; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street, Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone [679] 314-466 or 314-069
Flag: 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 shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of St. George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
Economy
Overview: Fiji's economy is primarily
agricultural, with a large subsistence sector.
Sugar exports are a major source of
foreign exchange and sugar processing
accounts for one-third of industrial output.
Industry, including sugar milling, contributes
10% to GDP. Fiji traditionally earned
considerable sums of hard currency from
the 250,000 tourists who visited each year.
In 1987, however, after two military
coups, the economy went into decline.
GDP dropped by 7.8% in 1987 and by
another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainly
created a drop in tourism, and the worst
drought of the century caused sugar
production to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar
and tourism turned in strong
performances in 1989, and the economy
rebounded vigorously.
GDP: $1.32 billion, per capita $1,750; real growth rate 12.5% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.8% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1988)
Budget: revenues $260 million; expenditures $233 million, including capital expenditures of $47 million (1988)
Exports: $312 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities—sugar 49%, copra, processed fish, lumber; partners—UK 45%, Australia 21%, US 4.7%
Imports: $454 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities—food 15%, petroleum products,
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