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Fiji

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Background :

Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections. 

Location :

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

Geographic Coordinates Center :

18 00 S, 175 00 E  (Latitude, Longtitude)

Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :

West 177.13
North -12.48
East -178.42
South -20.68

Area :

total 18 274 square km
land 18 274 square km
water 0 square km

Coastline :

1129.00 km

Climate :

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation 

Terrain :

mostly mountains of volcanic origin 

Elevation extremes :

lowest point 0 metres
highest point 1 324 metres

Natural resources :

copper fish
gold hydropower
offshore oil potential timber

Land use :

arable land 10.95 %
permanent crops 4.65 %
other 84.40 %

Irrigated land :

30 square km

Natural hazards :

cyclonic storms

current issues :

deforestation; soil erosion 

international agreements :

Biodiversity Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification
Endangered Species Law of the Sea
Marine Life Conservation Ozone Layer Protection
Tropical Timber 83 Tropical Timber 94
Wetlands

Population :

944 720 

Indicators :

Growth rate 1.38 %
Birth rate 21.92 births/1,000 population
Total fertility rate 2.65 children born/woman
Death rate 5.66 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate -2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Age structure :

0-14 years 30.30 %
15-64 years 64.90 %
65 years and over 4.80 %

Median age :

total 25.50 years
male 25.00 years
female 26.00 years

Sex ratio :

at birth 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years 1.00 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.82 male(s)/female
total population 1.01 male(s)/female

Health :

Infant mortality rate 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth - total population 70.73 years
Life expectancy at birth - male 68.18 years
Life expectancy at birth - female 73.41 years
HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate 0.10 %
HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS 600
HIV-AIDS deaths 200

Religions :

Christian 64.50 %
Hindu 27.90 %
Muslim 6.30 %
Sikh 0.30 %
other 0.30 %
none 0.70 %

Languages :

English  
Fijian  
Hindustani  

Literacy :

total population 93.70 %
male 95.50 %
female 91.90 %

Country name :

conventional long form Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form Fiji
local long form Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form Fiji/Viti

Country Codes :

ISO 3166 FJ
ISO Numeric 242
ISO3 FJI
FIPS FJ
ccTLD fj
English Fiji

Administrative divisions :

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western 

Capital :

name Suva
geographic coordinates 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference 12.00

International organization participation :

ACP ADB
AOSIS C (suspended)
CP FAO
G-77 IBRD
ICAO ICCt
ICRM IDA
IFAD IFC
IFRCS IHO
ILO IMF
IMO IOC
ISO ITSO
ITU ITUC
Interpol MIGA
OPCW PCA
PIF SPC
Sparteca UN
UNCTAD UNESCO
UNIDO UNMIS
UNMIT UNWTO
UPU WCO
WFTU WHO
WIPO WMO
WTO

Independence :

1970-10-10 

Executive branch :

President Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE

Legislative branch :

SDL 44.60 %
FLP 39.20 %
UPP 0.80 %
other 10.50 %

GDP - Gross Domestic product :

PPP - Purchasing Power Parity 3 594 000 000 $
Official Exchange Rate 3 048 000 000
RGR - Real Growth rate -1.00 %
PPP - per capita 3 800 $

GDP Composition by sector :

agriculture 8.90 %
industry 13.50 %
services 77.60 %

Labor force - by occupation :

agriculture 70.00 %
services 30.00 %

Other Indicators :

Unemployment rate 7.60 %
Population below poverty line 25.50 %
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.80 %
Current account balance - 507 000 000 $
Debt external 127 000 000 $
Market value of publicly traded shares 522 200 000 $
Military expenditures 2.20 % of GDP

Budget :

revenues 1 363 000 000 $
expenditures 1 376 000 000 $

Agriculture - products :

bananas cassava
cattle coconuts
fish goats
horses pigs
rice sugarcane
sweet potatoes

Industries :

clothing copra
cottage industries gold
silver sugar
timber tourism

Energy :

Electricity Production 928 000 000 kWh
Electricity Consumption 863 000 000 kWh
Oil Consumption 10 000 bbl/day
Oil Exports 2 455 bbl/day
Oil Imports 20 340 bbl/day

Value :

1 202 000 000 $

Partners :

United States (us) 15.70 %
United Kingdom (gb) 12.00 %
Australia (au) 10.60 %
Samoa (ws) 5.40 %
Tonga (to) 4.80 %
Japan (jp) 4.20 %
NZ 4.00 %

Commodities :

coconut oil fish
garments gold
molasses sugar
timber

Value :

3 120 000 000 $

Partners :

Singapore (sg) 29.90 %
Australia (au) 20.10 %
NZ 15.20 %
China (cn) 5.30 %
India (in) 4.50 %

Commodities :

chemicals food
machinery and transportation equipment manufactured products
petroleum products

Currency-name :

Fijian dollar 

Communications :

Telephons Main lines in use 129 100
Telephons Mobile, Cellular 600 000
FM Radio broadcast stations 40
Internet Country code (ccTLD) fj
Internet Hosts 12 747
Internet Users 103 000

Transportation :

Airports with paved runways 4
Roadways - total 3 440 km
Roadways - paved 1 692 km
Roadways - unpaved 1 748 km
Railways 597 km
Waterways 203 km

Photos

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