Fast Facts

 

•    Official name: 
Sovereign Democratic Republic of the Fiji Islands

•    Form of government: 
Republic with two legislative houses (House of Representatives, Senate)

•    Head of State: 
President

•    Head of government: 
Prime Minister

•    Capital: 
Suva

•    Official language: 
English

•    Currency: 
Fiji Dollar [US$1=F$2 Dec 1998 (approx)]

•    Land area: 
18,333 square kilometres, 332 islands

•    Time: 
12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) 
13 hours ahead of GMT during Daylight Saving Time (FJDST)

•    Population (1996): 
775,077. Fijians (50.8%), Indians (43.7%), Others (5.5%)

•    Urban-rural (1996): 
Urban 46.4%; Rural 53.6%

•    Sex distribution (1996): 
Female (49.2%); Male (50.8%)

•    Age breakdown (1996): 
Under 15 (35.3%); 15-29 (27.4%); 30-44 (20.7%); 45-59 (11.5%) ; 60-74 (4.2%); 75+ (0.9%)

•    Growth: 
0.8% per year

•    Religions: 
Christians 52.9%, Hindu 38.1%, Muslim 7.8%, Sikh 0.7%, Other 0.5%

•    Major cities/towns: 
Suva 167,975; Lautoka 43,274; Nadi 30,884; Labasa 24,095; Nausori 21,617

•    Labour force (1996): 
301,500