Fiji
|
| Basic Facts |
| Country name |
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti local short form: Fiji/Viti |
| Gevernment type | 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) |
| 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 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 |
| Currency | Fijian dollar (FJD) |
| Internet country code | .fj |
| Ports and terminals | Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva |
| Agriculture products | sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish |
| Industries | tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries |
| Geography |
| Location | Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 18 00 S, 175 00 E |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Area |
total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Boundaries | 0 km |
| Coastline | 1,129 km |
| Climate | tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation |
| Terrain | mostly mountains of volcanic origin |
| Natural resources | timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower |
| Natural hazards | cyclonic storms can occur from November to January |
| People |
| Population | 905,949 (July 2006 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.) |
| Religions | 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 |
| Languages | English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani |
