Fiji

Fiji comprises of approximately 330 islands, about one - third are inhabited. It covers about 1.3 million square kilometers of the South Pacific Ocean. The two major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
After nearly a century as British colony, Fiji became independent in 1970.
Today Fiji has one of the most developed economies of the Pacific islands.

related countries: United Kingdom

other Melanesian islands: New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

Official Name:
Republic of the Fiji Islands
short form: Fiji

ISO Country Code: fj

Time:
Local Time = Summer UTC + 13h

Country Calling Code: +679

Capital City: Suva on the island of Viti Levu (pop. 167 000)

Government:
Type: Parliamentary Democracy.
Independence (from U.K.): 10 October 1970.
Constitution: July 1997 (suspended May 2000, reaffirmed March 2001).

Geography:
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean.
Area: 18 333 sq. km.
Terrain: Mostly mountains of volcanic origin or varied, dense tropical forest.

Climate:
Tropical maritime; only slight seasonal temperature variation.

People:
Nationality: Noun--Fiji Islander; adjective--Fiji
Population: 880 000.
GNI per capita PPP: $ 6 282 (year)
Ethnic groups: Indigenous Fijian 54%, Indo-Fijian 40%.
Religion: Christian 52% (Methodist and Roman Catholic), Hindu 33%, Muslim 7%.
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindi.
Literacy: 93%.

Natural resources: Timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower.

Agriculture products: Sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish.

Industries: Tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries.

Exports partners: USA 23.7%, Australia 18.4%, UK 13.6%, Samoa 6%, Japan 4.8% (2003)

Imports partners: Australia 35.1%, Singapore 19.2%, New Zealand 17.2%, Japan 4.9% (2003)

Currency: Fijian Dollar (FJD)