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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.
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Common Name: Fiji Islands
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Local Official Name: Fiji Islands
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Abbreviated Name: Republic of the Fiji Islands
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Official Name: Fiji Islands
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Official Script Name: Fiji Islands
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Local Common Name: Fiji Islands
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Former Name: Fiji Islands
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda
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Government Type: republic
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Independence: 1970 October 10 (from UK)
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Constitution: enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998
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National Holiday: Independence Day, second Monday of October
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International Organization Participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Administrative Divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on British system
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Suffrage: 21 years of age years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA
Legislative Branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held 6-13 May 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 27.5%, FLP 26.5%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, NFP 1.2%, independents 1.4%, UGP .3%; seats by party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NLUP 2, NFP 1, independents 2, UGP 1
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
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Party Leaders: Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or CAMV [Ratu Josefa DIMURI]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Fiji Islands: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Continent: Australia
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Land Area Total: 18,270 sq km
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Region: South Pacific Oceania |
Land Area Land: 18,270 sq km
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Capitol City: Suva
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current: +12
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Latitude: 018 00 S
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 175 00 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 1,129 km
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Arable Land: 10.95 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 4.65 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 1,324 m
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Location: Tomanivi
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Pacific Ocean
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Largest City in Fiji Islands: Suva
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Suva Largest City Population: 196,000
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Threatened Species: 101
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Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Irrigated Land: 30
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
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Geographical Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
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Comparative Area of Fiji Islands: slightly smaller than New Jersey
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Fiji Islands's Geography: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Fiji Islands.
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General Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
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Natural Hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
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Economic Overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Yet, because of a tourist boom, short-run economic prospects are good, provided tensions do not again erupt between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.
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GDP: $5,255,000,000 USD
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Currency: Fijian dollar
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GDP per Capita: $5,900 USD
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Currency Code: FJD
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GDP Growth Rate: 1.70 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% FJD
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 8.90 %
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GDP of Industry: 13.50 %
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GDP of Services: 77.60 % |
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Inflation Rate: 3.00 % |
Population in Poverty: 25.50 %
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Unemployment Rate: 7.60 %
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Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $720,500,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $728,300,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 775,700,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 721,400,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 18.06%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 81.94%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 10,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $127,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $63,900,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
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Primary Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $1,462,000,000 USD - manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
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Import Partners: Singapore 27.4%, Australia 23.6%, NZ 18.9%, Thailand 4.5%
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Export Amount in USD: $719,600,000 USD - sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
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Export Partners: US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa 4.1%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 137,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 53 |
Number of People with Radios: 541,476 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 0 |
Number of People with Televisions: 88,110 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 102,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 142,200 |
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Internet Service Providers: 8,987 |
Internet Users: 61,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .fj |
Newspapers: 46 |
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Two Letter Country Code: FJ |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 679 |
Electricity Voltage: 240 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic: NA
international: access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic: NA
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; 2 satellite earth stations - 2 INMARSAT (Pacific Ocean)- 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
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Highways: 1,692 km |
Railways: 597 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 203 km
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Airports: 3 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 126 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 755,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 1.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,867 GRT/8,432 DWT
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1)
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Ports and Harbors: Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva
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Population: 905,949 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 22.55 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 46.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 5.65 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 1.40% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.73 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 143,847 |
Population Female 0-14: 138,061 |
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Population Male 15-64: 293,072 |
Population Female 15-64: 292,312 |
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Population Male 65+: 17,583 |
Population Female 65+: 21,074 |
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Population 0-14: 31.10% |
Literacy Rate: 93.70% |
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Population 15-64: 64.60% |
Literacy rate of Males: 95.50% |
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Population 65+: 4.30% |
Literacy rate of Females: 91.90% |
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Population that is Male: 52.50
% |
Population that is Female: 47.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 69.82 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 12.30 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 67.32 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 72.45 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.10%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 600
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -2.94
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Nationality: FIJIAN
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Ethnic Groups: Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
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Primary Language: Fijian
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Other Languages: English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
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Primary Religion: Christian
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Other Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority
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Branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 427,843 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 342,674 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 18,182 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 2.20
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Fiji Islands Spa and Resort Directory
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Fiji Islands Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Fiji Islands Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Fiji Islands City Information Game Earn Real Money
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