Fiji

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Current government officials

Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Ethnicity/race: Fijian 51%, Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998)

Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Islam 8%, other 2%

National Holiday: Independence Day, 2nd Monday of October

Literacy rate: 94% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $3.7 billion; per capita $3,900. Real growth rate: –2.5%. Inflation: 4.8%. Unemployment: 7.6% (1999). Arable land: 11%. Agriculture: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish. Labor force: 137,000 (1999); agriculture 70%, industry and services 30% (2001 est.). Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries. Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower. Exports: $1.2 billion (2006): sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil. Imports: $3.1 billion (2006): manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals. Major trading partners: U.S., Australia, UK, Samoa, Japan, China, Tonga, New Zealand (2006).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 112,500 (2005); mobile cellular: 205,000 (2005). Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998). Television broadcast stations: n.a. Internet hosts: 12,137 (2007). Internet users: 80,000 (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 597 km; note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar (2006). Highways: total: 3,440 km; paved: 1,692 km; unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2004). Ports and harbors: Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva. Airports: 28 (2007).

International disputes: none.

Major sources and definitions