Fiji :: Australia-Oceania
Introduction
Background:
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). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Reelected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Following years of political turmoil, long-delayed legislative elections were held in September 2014 that were deemed "credible" by international observers and that resulted in BAINIMARAMA being reelected. He was reelected in November 2018 in elections deemed free and fair.
Geography
Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total:
18,274 sq km
land:
18,274 sq km
water:
0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 156
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use:
agricultural land:
23.3%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
9%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
4.7%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
9.6%
(2011 est.)
forest:
55.7%
(2011 est.)
other:
21%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km
(2012)
Population distribution:
approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:
the widespread practice of waste incineration is a major contributor to air pollution in the country, as are vehicle emissions in urban areas; deforestation and soil erosion are significant problems; a contributory factor to erosion is clearing of land by bush burning, a widespread practie that threatens biodiversity
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
People and Society
Population:
935,974
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Nationality:
noun:
Fijian(s)
adjective:
Fijian
Ethnic groups:
iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese)
(2007 est.)
note: a 2010 law replaces 'Fijian' with 'iTaukei' when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji
Languages:
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Religions:
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.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
26.86%
(male 128,499/female 122,873)
15-24 years:
15.51%
(male 73,993/female 71,139)
25-54 years:
41.05%
(male 196,932/female 187,270)
55-64 years:
9.25%
(male 43,813/female 42,763)
65 years and over:
7.34%
(male 31,556/female 37,136)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
53.4
youth dependency ratio:
44.5
elderly dependency ratio:
8.9
potential support ratio:
11.2
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
29.9 years
male:
29.7 years
female:
30.1 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Population growth rate:
0.5%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Birth rate:
17.4 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Death rate:
6.3 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Net migration rate:
-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Population distribution:
approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization:
urban population:
57.2% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
1.62% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
178,000 SUVA (capital)
(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.85 male(s)/female
total population:
1.03 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
34 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Infant mortality rate:
total:
8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.7 years
male:
71 years
female:
76.6 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Total fertility rate:
2.31 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
97.8% of population
rural:
88.7% of population
total:
93.8% of population
unimproved:
urban:
2.2% of population
rural:
11.3% of population
total:
6.2% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
3.5%
(2017)
Physicians density:
0.86 physicians/1,000 population
(2015)
Hospital bed density:
2 beds/1,000 population
(2016)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
94% of population
rural:
89% of population
total:
98% of population
unimproved:
urban:
6% of population
rural:
11% of population
total:
2% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<100
(2019 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
high
(2020)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:
malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
30.2%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 24
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 101
Literacy:
total population:
99.1%
male:
99.1%
female:
99.1%
(2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
15.4%
male:
11.9%
female:
22.4%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Fiji
conventional short form:
Fiji
local long form:
Republic of Fiji/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form:
Fiji/Viti
etymology:
the Fijians called their home Viti, but the neighboring Tongans called it Fisi, and in the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation - promulgated by explorer Captain James COOK - the designation became Fiji
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name:
Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates:
18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference:
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution:
history:
several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013
Legal system:
common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji
dual citizenship recognized:
yes
residency requirement for naturalization:
at least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jioji Konousi KONROTE (since 12 November 2015)
head of government:
Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
elections/appointments:
president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 August 2018 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister endorsed by the president
election results:
Jioji Konousi KONROTE reelected president (unopposed)
Legislative branch:
description:
unicameral Parliament (51 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections:
last held on 14 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)
election results:
percent of vote by party - FijiFirst 50%, SODELPA 39.6%, NFP 7.4%; seats by party - FijiFirst 27, SODELPA 21, NFP 3; composition - men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, all puisne judges of the High Court, and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil, criminal, family, employment, and tax divisions)
judge selection and term of office:
chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; judges of the Supreme Court, the president of the Court of Appeal, the justices of the Court of Appeal, and puisne judges of the High Court appointed by the president of Fiji upon the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission after consulting with the cabinet minister and the committee of the House of Representatives responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice, Supreme Court judges and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70, but this requirement may be waived for one or more sessions of the court; puisne judges appointed for not less than 4 years nor more than 7 years, with mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts:
Magistrates' Court (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)
Political parties and leaders:
FijiFirst [Veroqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA] ++ Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY] ++ Fiji United Freedon Party or FUFP [Jagath KARUNARATNE] ++ National Federation Party or NFP [Biman PRASAD] (primarily Indian) ++ Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Lynda TABUYA] ++ Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA ++ Unity Fiji [Adi QORO]
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca (suspended), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akuila VUIRA
chancery:
2000 M Street NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 466-8320
FAX:
[1] (202) 466-8325
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph James CELLA (since 23 December 2019); note - also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
telephone:
[679] 331-4466
embassy:
158 Princes Rd, Tamavua
mailing address:
P. O. Box 218, Suva
FAX:
[679] 330-8685
Flag description:
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 blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean and the Union Jack reflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion, holding a coconut pod between its paws, above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, a banana bunch, and a white dove of peace
National symbol(s):
Fijian canoe; national color: light blue
National anthem:
name:
God Bless Fiji
lyrics/music:
Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
note: adopted 1970; known in Fijian as "Meda Dau Doka" (Let Us Show Pride); adapted from the hymn, "Dwelling in Beulah Land," the anthem's English lyrics are generally sung, although they differ in meaning from the official Fijian lyrics
Economy
Economic overview:
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed and connected of the Pacific island economies. Earnings from the tourism industry, with an estimated 842,884 tourists visiting in 2017, and remittances from Fijian's working abroad are the country's largest foreign exchange earners.
++ Bottled water exports to the US is Fiji's largest domestic export. Fiji's sugar sector remains a significant industry and a major export, but crops and one of the sugar mills suffered damage during Cyclone Winston in 2016. Fiji's trade imbalance continues to widen with increased imports and sluggish performance of domestic exports.
++ The return to parliamentary democracy and successful elections in September 2014 improved investor confidence, but increasing bureaucratic regulation, new taxes, and lack of consultation with relevant stakeholders brought four consecutive years of decline for Fiji on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index. Private sector investment in 2017 approached 20% of GDP, compared to 13% in 2013.
GDP real growth rate:
3%
(2017 est.)
0.7%
(2016 est.)
3.8%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4%
(2017 est.)
3.9%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Credit ratings:
Moody's rating:
Ba3
(2017)
Standard & Poors rating:
BB-
(2019)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$8.629 billion
(2017 est.)
$8.376 billion
(2016 est.)
$8.321 billion
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.891 billion
(2017 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,800
(2017 est.)
$9,600
(2016 est.)
$9,600
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 118
Gross national saving:
12.7% of GDP
(2017 est.)
13.4% of GDP
(2016 est.)
16.1% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
13.5%
(2017 est.)
industry:
17.4%
(2017 est.)
services:
69.1%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
81.3%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
24.4%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
16.9%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
0%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
29%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-51.6%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
61.5
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, copra, ginger, tropical fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, chicken, fish
Industries:
tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Labor force:
353,100
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
44.2%
industry:
14.3%
services:
41.6%
(2011)
Unemployment rate:
4.5%
(2017 est.)
5.5%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Population below poverty line:
31%
(2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
2.6%
highest 10%:
34.9%
(2009 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
1.454 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
1.648 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29.7% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Public debt:
48.9% of GDP
(2017 est.)
47.5% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
-$277 million
(2017 est.)
-$131 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Exports:
$908.2 million
(2017 est.)
$709 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Exports - partners:
US 20.8%, Australia 14.9%, NZ 7.7%, Tonga 5%, Vanuatu 4.6%, China 4.5%, Spain 4.3%, UK 4.3%, Kiribati 4.1%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, including oil, fish, beverages, gems, sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil, mineral water
Imports:
$1.911 billion
(2017 est.)
$1.761 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food and beverages, chemicals, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Australia 19.2%, NZ 17.2%, Singapore 17%, China 13.8%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.116 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$908.6 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Debt - external:
$1.022 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$696.4 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
2.05955
(2020 est.)
2.17345
(2019 est.)
2.1104
(2018 est.)
2.0976
(2014 est.)
1.8874
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
99.6%
(2018)
electrification - urban areas:
100%
(2018)
electrification - rural areas:
99.2%
(2018)
Electricity - production:
914 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - consumption:
850 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
338,000 kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
34% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
38% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
27% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Refined petroleum products - imports:
17,460 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
2.369 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
80,650
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
8.66
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
1,097,345
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
117.83
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
local, interisland, and international telecommunications; subject to occasional devastating cyclones; Fiji is a leader in the Pacific region in terms of development of its ICT (Information & Communications Technology) sector and investment in telecoms infrastructure; mobile services the primary source of Internet access across the region; most advanced economy in the Pacific island region as well as hosting the highest mobile Internet penetration; initial progress towards 5G readiness
(2020)
domestic:
fixed-line 9 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 118 per 100 persons
(2019)
international:
country code - 679; landing points for the ICN1, SCCN, Southern Cross NEXT, Tonga Cable and Tui-Samoa submarine cable links to US, NZ, Australia and Pacific islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Fallis & Futuna, and American Samoa; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean)
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
Fiji TV, a publicly traded company, operates a free-to-air channel; Digicel Fiji operates the Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet users:
total:
462,860
percent of population:
49.97%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
13,033
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
1
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
2
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
16
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
1,670,216
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
106.83 million
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
DQ
(2016)
Airports:
28
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 120
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
4
(2017)
over 3,047 m:
1
(2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
(2017)
914 to 1,523 m:
2
(2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
24
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
5
(2013)
under 914 m:
19
(2013)
Railways:
total:
597 km
(2008)
narrow gauge:
597 km
0.600-m gauge
(2008)
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to December
country comparison to the world: 109
Roadways:
total:
3,440 km
(2011)
paved:
1,686 km
(2011)
unpaved:
1,754 km
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 159
Waterways:
203 km
(122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges)
(2012)
country comparison to the world: 97
Merchant marine:
total:
64
by type:
general cargo 19, oil tanker 4, other 41
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 106
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Lautoka, Levuka, Suva
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Force Command, Maritime Command
(2019)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP
(2019)
1.6% of GDP
(2018)
1.5% of GDP
(2017)
1.2% of GDP
(2016)
1% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 71
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) have about 3,500 personnel (3,200 Land Force; 300 Maritime Command)
(2019)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the RFMF's small inventory is a mix of equipment from Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the US; since 2010, the only recorded arms deliveries were from Australia; China has donated some non-lethal material since 2018
(2019 est.)
Military deployments:
170 Egypt (MFO); 170 Iraq (UNAMI); 130 Golan Heights (UNDOF)
(2020)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55
(2013)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
maritime boundary dispute with Tonga
