Global InformationFiji information
Republic of Fiji
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|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: "Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui" (Fijian) "Fear God and honour the King"[1] | |
| Anthem: "God Bless Fiji" | |
 | |
| Capital and largest city | Suva[2] 18°10′S 178°27′E / 18.167°S 178.450°E |
| Official languages |
|
| Recognised regional languages | Rotuman |
| Ethnic groups (2016[4]) |
|
| Religion |
|
| Demonym(s) | Fijian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
• President | Wiliame Katonivere |
• Prime Minister | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Independence from the United Kingdom | |
• Independence | 10 October 1970 |
• Republic | 7 October 1987 |
| Area | |
• Total | 18,274 km2 (7,056 sq mi) (151st) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
• 2018 estimate | 926,276[6] (161st) |
• 2017 census | 884,887[7] |
• Density | 46.4/km2 (120.2/sq mi) (148th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2022 estimate |
• Total |  $12.6 billion [8] (158th) |
• Per capita | $13,944[8] (102nd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2022 estimate |
• Total |  $4.85 billion[8] (164th) |
• Per capita | $5,341[8] (106th) |
| Gini (2013) | 36.4[9] medium |
| HDI (2021) | 0.730[10] high · 99th |
| Currency | Fijian dollar (FJD) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (FJT) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +679 |
| ISO 3166 code | FJ |
| Internet TLD | .fj |
Website fiji.gov.fj | |
Fiji[n 1] (/ˈfiːdʒi/ (
listen) FEE-jee, /fiːˈdʒiː/ fee-JEE[11]), officially the Republic of Fiji,[n 2] is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The most outlying island group is Ono-i-Lau. About 87% of the total population of 924,610 live on the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts: either in the capital city of Suva; or in smaller urban centres such as Nadi—where tourism is the major local industry; or in Lautoka, where the sugar-cane industry is dominant. The interior of Viti Levu is sparsely inhabited because of its terrain.[12]
The majority of Fiji's islands were formed by volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago. Some geothermal activity still occurs today on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni.[13] The geothermal systems on Viti Levu are non-volcanic in origin and have low-temperature surface discharges (of between roughly 35 and 60 degrees Celsius (95 and 140 °F)).
Humans have lived in Fiji since the second millennium BCE—first Austronesians and later Melanesians, with some Polynesian influences. Europeans first visited Fiji in the 17th century.[14] In 1874, after a brief period in which Fiji was an independent kingdom, the British established the Colony of Fiji. Fiji operated as a Crown colony until 1970, when it gained independence and became known as the Dominion of Fiji. In 1987, following a series of coups d'état, the military government that had taken power declared it a republic. In a 2006 coup, Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power. In 2009, the Fijian High Court ruled that the military leadership was unlawful. At that point, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom the military had retained as the nominal head of state, formally abrogated the 1997 Constitution and re-appointed Bainimarama as interim prime minister. Later in 2009, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau succeeded Iloilo as president.[15] On 17 September 2014, after years of delays, a democratic election took place. Bainimarama's FijiFirst party won 59.2% of the vote, and international observers deemed the election credible.[16]
Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific[17] through its abundant forest, mineral, and fish resources. The currency is the Fijian dollar, with the main sources of foreign exchange being the tourist industry, remittances from Fijians working abroad, bottled water exports, and sugar cane.[4] The Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development supervises Fiji's local government, which takes the form of city and town councils.[18]
- ^ "About Fiji – History, Government and Economy". www.fijihighcommission.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ Although Suva is the largest population center that is classified as a "city", the town of Nasinu has a population that is slightly higher than Suva's. See "Age, Sex and Marital Status by Urban and Rural Enumeration, Fiji 2007". statsfiji.gov.fj. Fiji Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Compare: "Constitution of the Republic of Fiji". fiji.gov.fj. The Fijian Government. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017. Subsection 3(3) reads: "This Constitution is to be adopted in the English language and translations in the iTaukei and Hindi languages are to be made available." Subsection 31(3) clarifies that Fiji Hindi is the intended meaning of "Hindi".
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Factbook-Fijiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
2007 Census – Religionwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Fiji Demographics Profile". www.indexmundi.com.
- ^ Government of Fiji (10 January 2018). "Fiji Bureau of Statistics Releases 2017 Census Results". Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2022". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Gini Index". World Bank. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ Deverson, Tony; Kennedy, Graeme, eds. (2005). "Fiji". The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195584516.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-558451-6. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Fiji: People". United States of America State department. 28 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ "Fiji Geography". fijidiscovery.com. 2005. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ "Fiji: History". infoplease.com. 2005. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ "Fiji's president takes over power". BBC. 10 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ Perry, Nick; Pita, Ligaiula (29 September 2014). "Int'l monitors endorse Fiji election as credible". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "Fiji High Commission :: About Fiji". www.fiji.org.nz. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ "Fiji – Our Government". fiji.gov.fj. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
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