2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Fiji 
  n  :  an  independent  state  within  the  British  Commonwealth  located 
  on  the  Fiji  Islands  [syn:  {Fiji}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Fiji 
 
  Fiji:Geography 
 
  Location:  Oceania,  island  group  in  the  South  Pacific  Ocean,  about 
  two-thirds  of  the  way  from  Hawaii  to  New  Zealand 
 
  Map  references:  Oceania 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  18,270  sq  km 
  land  area:  18,270  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  smaller  than  New  Jersey 
 
  Land  boundaries:  0  km 
 
  Coastline:  1,129  km 
 
  Maritime  claims:  measured  from  claimed  archipelagic  baselines 
  continental  shelf:  200-m  depth  or  to  the  depth  of  exploitation; 
  rectilinear  shelf  claim  added 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  none 
 
  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: 
  arable  land:  8% 
  permanent  crops:  5% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  3% 
  forest  and  woodland:  65% 
  other:  19% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  10  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  deforestation;  soil  erosion 
  natural  hazards:  cyclonic  storms  can  occur  from  November  to  January 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Law 
  of  the  Sea,  Marine  Life  Conservation,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer 
  Protection,  Tropical  Timber  94 
 
  Note:  includes  332  islands  of  which  approximately  110  are  inhabited 
 
  Fiji:People 
 
  Population:  772,891  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  36%  (female  136,570;  male  142,581) 
  15-64  years:  61%  (female  235,491;  male  235,411) 
  65  years  and  over:  3%  (female  11,943;  male  10,895)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  1.16%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  23.69  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  6.42  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  -5.67  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  17.7  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  65.42  years 
  male:  63.13  years 
  female:  67.82  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  2.87  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Fijian(s) 
  adjective:  Fijian 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Fijian  49%,  Indian  46%,  European,  other  Pacific 
  Islanders,  overseas  Chinese,  and  other  5% 
 
  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  (1986) 
 
  Languages:  English  (official),  Fijian,  Hindustani 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1986) 
  total  population:  87% 
  male:  90% 
  female:  84% 
 
  Labor  force:  235,000 
  by  occupation:  subsistence  agriculture  67%,  wage  earners  18%,  salary 
  earners  15%  (1987) 
 
  Fiji:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Fiji 
  conventional  short  form:  Fiji 
 
  Digraph:  FJ 
 
  Type:  republic 
  note:  military  coup  leader  Maj.  Gen.  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) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  10  October  (1970) 
 
  Constitution:  10  October  1970  (suspended  1  October  1987);  a  new 
  Constitution  was  proposed  on  23  September  1988  and  promulgated  on  25 
  July  1990;  the  1990  Constitution  is  under  review;  the  review  is 
  scheduled  to  be  complete  by  1997 
 
  Legal  system:  based  on  British  system 
 
  Suffrage:  21  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state:  President  Ratu  Sir  Kamisese  MARA  (since  12  January 
  1994);  First  Vice  President  Ratu  Sir  Josaia  TAIVAIQIA  (since  12 
  January  1994);  Second  Vice  President  Ratu  Inoke  TAKIVEIKATA  (since  12 
  January  1994);  note  -  President  GANILAU  died  on  15  December  1993  and 
  Vice  President  MARA  became  acting  president;  MARA  was  elected 
  president  by  the  Great  Council  of  Chiefs  on  12  January  1994 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Sitiveni  RABUKA  (since  2  June  1992) 
 
  Presidential  Council:  appointed  by  the  governor  general 
  Great  Council  of  Chiefs:  highest  ranking  members  of  the  traditional 
  chiefly  system 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  prime  minister  from  members  of 
  Parliament  and  responsible  to  Parliament 
 
  Legislative  branch:  the  bicameral  Parliament  was  dissolved  following 
  the  coup  of  14  May  1987 
  Senate:  nonelective  body  containing  34  seats,  24  reserved  for  ethnic 
  Fijians,  9  for  Indians  and  others  1  for  the  island  of  Rotuma; 
  appointed  by  President 
  House  of  Representatives:  elections  last  held  18-25  February  1994 
  (next  to  be  held  NA  1999);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA 
  seats  -  (70  total,  with  ethnic  Fijians  allocated  37  seats,  ethnic 
  Indians  27  seats,  and  independents  and  other  6  seats)  number  of  seats 
  by  party  SVT  31,  NFP  20,  FLP  7,  FA  5,  GVP  4,  independents  2,  ANC  1 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  Fijian  Political  Party  (SVT  -  primarily 
  Fijian),  leader  Maj.  Gen.  Sitivini  RABUKA  National  Federation  Party 
  (NFP;  primarily  Indian),  Jai  Ram  REDDY;  Fijian  Nationalist  Party 
  (FNP),  Sakeasi  BUTADROKA  Fiji  Labor  Party  (FLP),  Mahendra  CHAUDHRY 
  General  Voters  Party  (GVP),  Bill  SORBY;  Fiji  Conservative  Party  (FCP), 
  Isireli  VUIBAU  Conservative  Party  of  Fiji  (CPF),  Jolale  ULUDOLE  and 
  Viliame  SAVU;  Fiji  Indian  Liberal  Party,  Swami  MAHARAJ;  Fiji  Indian 
  Congress  Party,  Ishwari  BAJPAI  Fiji  Independent  Labor  (Muslim), 
  leader  NA  Four  Corners  Party,  David  TULVANUAVOU  Fijian  Association 
  (FA),  leader  NA  General  Electors'  Association,  leader  NA 
  note:  in  early  1995,  ethnic  Fijian  members  of  the  All  National 
  Congress  (ANC)  merged  with  the  Fijian  Association  (FA);  the  new  FA  is 
  scheduled  to  hold  its  first  meeting  in  April  1995  at  which  time  the 
  leaders  of  the  party  will  be  chosen;  it  is  likely  that  Josevata 
  KAMIKAMICA  the  leader  of  the  FA  before  the  merger,  will  be  elected 
  leader  and  Adi  Kuini  Bavadra  SPEED,  the  leader  of  the  ANC  before  the 
  merger,  will  be  elected  deputy  leader;  the  remaining  members  of  the 
  ANC  have  renamed  their  party  the  General  Electors'  Association 
 
  Member  of:  ACP,  AsDB  CP  ESCAP,  FAO,  G-77,  GATT,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICFTU 
  ICRM,  IDA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC, 
  ITU,  PCA,  SPARTECA  SPC,  SPF,  UN  UNAMIR  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO 
  UNIFIL,  UNIKOM  UPU,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO,  WMO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Pita  Kewa  NACUVA 
  chancery:  Suite  240,  2233  Wisconsin  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20007 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  337-8320 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  337-1996 
  consulate(s):  New  York 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  (vacant);  Charge  d'Affaires  Michael  W.  MARINE 
  embassy:  31  Loftus  Street,  Suva 
  mailing  address:  P.  O.  Box  218,  Suva 
  telephone:  [679]  314466 
  FAX:  [679]  300081 
 
  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  Saint  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  and  tourism  are  the  major  sources  of 
  foreign  exchange.  Industry  contributes  13%  to  GDP,  with  sugar 
  processing  accounting  for  one-third  of  industrial  activity.  Roughly 
  250,000  tourists  visit  each  year.  Political  uncertainty  and  drought, 
  however,  contribute  to  substantial  fluctuations  in  earnings  from 
  tourism  and  sugar  and  to  the  emigration  of  skilled  workers.  In  1992, 
  growth  was  approximately  3%,  based  on  growth  in  tourism  and  a 
  lessening  of  labor-management  disputes  in  the  sugar  and  gold-mining 
  sectors.  In  1993,  the  government's  budgeted  growth  rate  of  3%  was  not 
  achieved  because  of  a  decline  in  non-sugar  agricultural  output  and 
  damage  from  Cyclone  Kina.  Growth  in  1994  is  estimated  to  be  5%, 
  largely  attributed  to  increased  tourism  and  expansion  in  domestic 
  production,  particularly  in  the  manufacturing  sector. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $4.3  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  5%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $5,650  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  1.5%  (1994) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  5.4%  (1992) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $485  million 
  expenditures:  $579  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $58 
  million  (1994) 
 
  Exports:  $405  million  (f.o.b.,  1993) 
  commodities:  sugar  40%,  clothing,  gold,  processed  fish,  lumber 
  partners:  EC  26%,  Australia  15%,  Pacific  Islands  11%,  Japan  6% 
 
  Imports:  $634  million  (c.i.f.,  1993) 
  commodities:  machinery  and  transport  equipment,  petroleum  products, 
  food,  consumer  goods,  chemicals 
  partners:  Australia  30%,  NZ  17%,  Japan  13%,  EC  6%,  US  6% 
 
  External  debt:  $670  million  (1994  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  0%  (1993  est.);  accounts  for  13%  of 
  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  200,000  kW 
  production:  480  million  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  581  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  sugar,  tourism,  copra,  gold,  silver,  clothing,  lumber, 
  small  cottage  industries 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  23%  of  GDP;  principal  cash  crop  is 
  sugarcane;  coconuts,  cassava,  rice,  sweet  potatoes,  bananas;  small 
  livestock  sector  includes  cattle,  pigs,  horses,  and  goats;  fish  catch 
  nearly  33,000  tons  (1989) 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral 
  commitments  (1980-89),  $815  million 
 
  Currency:  1  Fijian  dollar  (F$)  =  100  cents 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Fijian  dollars  (F$)  per  US$1  -  1.4140  (January  1995), 
  1.4641  (1994),  1.5418  (1993),  1.5030  (1992),  1.4756  (1991),  1.4809 
  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Fiji:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  644  km  note  -  belongs  to  the  government  owned  Fiji  Sugar 
  Corporation 
  narrow  gauge:  644  km  0.610-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  3,300  km 
  paved:  1,590  km 
  unpaved:  gravel,  crushed  stone,  stabilized  earth  1,290  km  unimproved 
  earth  420  km  (1984) 
 
  Inland  waterways:  203  km  122  km  navigable  by  motorized  craft  and 
  200-metric-ton  barges 
 
  Ports:  Labasa,  Lautoka  Levuka  Savusavu  Suva 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  5  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  16,267  GRT/17,884  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  chemical  tanker  2,  oil  tanker  1,  roll-on/roll-off  cargo 
  2 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  23 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  16 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  4 
 
  Fiji:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  53,228  telephones;  71  telephones/1,000  persons; 
  modern  local,  interisland  and  international  (wire/radio  integrated) 
  public  and  special-purpose  telephone,  telegraph,  and  teleprinter 
  facilities;  regional  radio  center 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  NA 
  international:  important  COMPAC  cable  link  between  US-Canada  and 
  NZ-Australia;  1  INTELSAT  (Pacific  Ocean)  earth  station 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  7,  FM  1,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  0 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Fiji:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Republic  of  Fiji  Military  Forces  (RFMF;  includes  army,  navy, 
  and  air  elements) 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  201,441;  males  fit  for  military 
  service  111,046;  males  reach  military  age  (18)  annually  8,466  (1995 
  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $22.4  million,  about 
  2%  of  GDP  (FY91/92) 
 
 
 

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