Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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Background:
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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). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May of 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
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Location:
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Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 00 S, 175 00 E
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Jersey
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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1,129 km
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
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Climate:
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tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains of volcanic origin
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
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Natural resources:
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timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 5%
other: 84% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion
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Environment - international agreements:
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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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Geography - note:
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includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
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Population:
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856,346 (July 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 32.5% (male 141,757; female 136,198)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 273,658; female 273,100)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 14,648; female 16,985) (2002 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.41% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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23.2 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Death rate:
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5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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13.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 68.56 years
female: 71.11 years (2002 est.)
male: 66.13 years
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Total fertility rate:
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2.83 children born/woman (2002 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.07% (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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85 (2000 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
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Ethnic groups:
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Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)
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Religions:
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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)
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Languages:
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English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 90%
female: 95% (1999 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
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Government type:
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republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
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Capital:
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Suva
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Administrative divisions:
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4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
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Independence:
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10 October 1970 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
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Constitution:
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promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level
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Legal system:
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based on British system
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA 2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000); Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since NA 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one 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, 2 September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%, other 16.5%; seats by party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NFP 1, independents 2, other 3
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
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Political parties and leaders:
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Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [leader NA]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [leader NA]; Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; Fijian Association Party of FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED]; Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE]; General Voters Party or GHP [leader NA]; Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Attar SINGH]; Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party or NVTLP [Samisoni BOLATAGICI]; New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [leader NA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Mick BEDDOES]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ronald K. McMULLEN
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 314466
FAX: [679] 300081
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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 and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact with the economy shrinking by 2.8% in 2000 and growing by only 1% in 2001. The Fiji Visitor's Bureau expects visitor arrivals to reach pre-coup levels during 2002. The government's ability to manage its budget - which is expected to run a net deficit of 6% in 2002 - will depend upon a return of political stability and investor confidence.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (2001 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1% (2001 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $5,200 (2001 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 17%
industry: 25%
services: 58% (2000 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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25.5% (1990-91)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2000 est.)
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Labor force:
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137,000 (1999)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.6% (1999)
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Budget:
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revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
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Industries:
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tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA%
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Electricity - production:
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515 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 18.06%
hydro: 81.94%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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478.95 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000)
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Agriculture - products:
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sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
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Exports:
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$572 million (f.o.b., 2000)
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Exports - commodities:
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sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
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Exports - partners:
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Australia 24.9%, US 20.8%, UK 14.4%, Japan 5.1%, other Pacific island countries 5.0%, NZ 3.6% (2000)
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Imports:
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$833 million (c.i.f., 2000)
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Imports - commodities:
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manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
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Australia 46.2%, NZ 13.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Japan 4.5%, Hong Kong 3.8%, US 3.2%, Taiwan 3.0% (2000)
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Debt - external:
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$162.7 million (1999)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$40.3 million (1995)
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Currency:
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Fijian dollar (FJD)
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Currency code:
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FJD
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Exchange rates:
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Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.2934 (January 2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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80,901 (1999)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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5,200 (1997)
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Telephone system:
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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 - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
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Radios:
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541,476 (1999)
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA
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Televisions:
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88,110 (1999)
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Internet country code:
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.fj
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000)
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Internet users:
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7,500 (2000)
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Railways:
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total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation (1995)
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Highways:
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total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1996)
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Waterways:
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203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
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Ports and harbors:
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Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda
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Merchant marine:
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total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4
(2002 est.)
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Airports:
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27 (2001)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 18 (2001)
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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