Fiji

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Fiji's Information


Capital	Suva
Languages	English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Ethnic Groups	ITaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese)
Religion	Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
Government	Parliamentary republic
Independance	10 October 1970 (from the UK)
Area	18,274.00 km²
Land Area	18,274.00 km²
Population	915,303.00
Location	Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
GDP(PPP)	$8,374,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$9,400.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the United States, Australia, and Samoa.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are sugar, garments, gold, and timber.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, South Korea, and New Zealand.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, and petroleum products.
Climate	Tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain	Mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Where is Fiji?

Located in Oceania, Fiji is an island nation. It has a 1,129.00 km coastline.

The capital and largest city of Fiji is Suva which is located on the south eastern coast of the island of Viti Levu. It was built on a hilly peninsula which juts out into the ocean. The city serves not only as the administrative capital of Fiji but also an important economic and cultural hub which is a popular vacation destination for tourists visiting from around the world. Including the entire metropolitan area, Suva is home to an estimated 175,399 citizens. Major attractions in Suva include the Suva City Library, Fiji Museum, as well as a large array of entertainment venues including bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Suva has a tropical rainforest climate. The city experiences plenty of rain on a year round basis with an average annual amount of 118.11 inches.

Geography

Fiji has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a tropical marine climate with some seasonal temperature variation. Its terrain consists mostly of mountains of volcanic origin.

Population

Fiji has a population of 915,303 making it the 160th largest in the world.

English and Fijian are official languages. The majority ethnic groups reported are iTaukei, Indian and Rotuman. The majority of the population is Protestant Christian, with a significant Buddhist minority.

Fiji has three official languages: Fijian, English, and Fiji Hindi (or Hindustani). Fijian was officially proclaimed as being one of the archipelago’s official languages according to its 1997 Constitution. Approximately 350,000 consider this indigenous language to be their mother tongue while another 200,000 cite it as a second language. Fiji Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language largely brought to Fiji by Indians who travelled there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Government

Fiji is an independent country. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1970. Its constitution was last ratified in 2013.

Fiji is a parliamentary constitutional republic with a President as its head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of the government. The islands are made up of four divisions and fourteen provinces. The administrative business of Fiji’s government is conducted in the Government Building in the capital city of Suva. The President’s official residence is a Georgian mansion built in 1928 known as Government House. Fiji has held ten general elections since gaining its independence from the United Kingdom. Members of Parliament serve for a period of four years. Voters have an array of political parties to choose from including FijiFirst and Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (or the United Fiji Party).

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Fiji's GDP is $8,374,000,000.00 (USD) with $9,400.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 161st largest economy and its citizens the 138th richest in the world. The currency of Fiji is the Dollar (FJD).

Its major export partners are the United States, Australia, and Samoa. Its main exports are sugar, garments, gold, and timber. Its major import partners are China, South Korea, and New Zealand. Its major imports include manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, and petroleum products.

Flag

Fiji’s official flag has remained virtually the same since the island's days as a British colony. It features a light blue background with a large Union Jack in its upper hoist side corner. The other main featuret, a shield, includes elements taken from Fiji’s coat of arms. These images, which include cocoa, banana fruit, and sugar cane, are direct references to the archipelago’s rich agricultural industry. The dove on the flag is an obvious peace symbol while the lion is a traditional symbol of the United Kingdom. Fiji’s official flag was adopted on October 10, 1970. Prior to becoming a British colony Fiji flew a blue and white flag featuring a red shield. Despite political calls for a new flag design without the Union Jack, Fiji’s flag hasn’t changed since becoming a republic in 1987.