Facts about Fiji

Land area: 18,333 sq kms; comprises 330 islands; Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the main islands; covers about  1.3 million sq kms of the South Pacific Ocean 

Location: In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, midway between the Equator and the South Pole; longitude 174° East and 178° West of Greenwich; latitude 12° S and 22° South.

Capital: Suva

Population: 837271 as at December 2007 of which 475,739 were Fijians; 313,798 were Indians and Others 47,734

Demonym: Fijian or Fiji Islander

Women: About 49% are women, with a literacy rate of 89%

Language: English is the official language; Fijian and Hindi are also taught in schools. Fijian Hindi is distinct from the language spoken in India

Climate: Tropical South Sea maritime climate without extremes of heat or cold; occasionally traversed by tropical cyclones, confined between November and April; ten to twelve cyclones affect some parts of Fiji every decade, two or three severely

Flora and Fauna: Relatively few but are of exceptional scientific interest because of the higher proportion of endemic forms; a few rare reptiles and birds, notably the Crested Iguana are found

Religion: Christianity is the main religion (52.9%) but Hinduism (38.1%) Islam (7.8%) Sikhism (0.7%) and other faiths (0.5%) are recognised

Culture: Multi-cultural but mainly Fijian and Indian

Currency: The Fiji Dollar (1 $NZ= $F1.350)

Income per capita: $F 3800

Economic Activity: Sugarcane, Coconut, Cassava (Tapioca), Rice, Sweet Potato, Banana are main agricultural produce; live stock includes Cattle, Pigs, Horses, Goats and Fish

Exports: Sugar, Gold, Garments, Fish, Molasses and Lumber.   The main imports are manufactured goods, machinery, transport equipment, chemicals and foodstuff

Foreign Investments: Tourism, Mining, Manufacturing, Information and Communication Technology, Valued added Fisheries and Timber

Major Trading Partners: Australia, New Zealand, US, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu

Diplomatic Missions: Australia, Britain, China, European Commission, France, Federated States of Micronesia, India, Kiribati, Korea, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, Tuvalu, Indonesia, United States of America

Source: Government of Fiji