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GOVERNMENT OF FIJI
Fiji is a parliamentary republic. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Names of the Country: Official Name: Republic of Fiji; conventional short form: Fiji; local long form: Republic of Fiji (English)/ Matanitu ko Viti (Fijian); local short form: Fiji (English)/ Viti (Fijian). 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. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Capital: Suva (on Viti Levu): Geographic Coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E. The name means "little hill" in the native Fijian (iTaukei) language and refers to a mound where a temple once stood. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Administrative Divisions: 14 provinces and 1 dependency; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma, Serua, Tailevu. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from the UK). National Holiday: Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
National Symbols of Fiji
Flag: 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. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
National Symbols: 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
Constitution and Legal System of Fiji
Constitution: several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013. Amendments: proposed as a bill by Parliament and supported by at least three quarters of its members, followed by referral to the president and then to the Electoral Commission, which conducts a referendum; passage requires approval by at least three-quarters of registered voters and assent by the president. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legal System: common law system based on the English model. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
International Law Organization Participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
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. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch of Fiji
Chief of State: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch Elections and Appointments: president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 October 2021 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister endorsed by the president
Results of the Last Presidential Election: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president with 28 votes against 23 votes for Teimumu KEPA. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legislative Branch of Fiji
Fiji has a unicameral Parliament (55 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
Legislative elections were held on 14 November 2018. Elections were scheduled for 2022.
Results of the Last Legislative Election(percent of vote by party): FijiFirst 50 percent, SODELPA 39.6 percent, NFP 7.4 percent; seats by party: FijiFirst 27, SODELPA 21, NFP 3; composition: men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6 percent
Judicial Branch of Fiji
Highest Court: 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 for the Highest Court: 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. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Subordinate Courts: Magistrates' Court (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)
Elections and Political Parties of Fiji
Voting Age: 18 years of age; universal. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legislative elections were held on 14 November 2018. Elections were scheduled for 2022.
Political Parties in Fiji:
FijiFirst led by Veroqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA
Fiji Labor Party or FLP led by Mahendra CHAUDHRY
Freedom Alliance led by Jagath KARUNARATNE] (formerly Fiji United Freedom Party or FUFP)
National Federation Party or NFP led by Biman PRASAD] (primarily Indian)
Peoples Democratic Party or PDP led by Lynda TABUYA
Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA led by Viliame Rogoibulu GAVOKA
Unity Fiji led by Savenaca NARUBE. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Results of the Last Presidential Election: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president with 28 votes against 23 votes for Teimumu KEPA. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Results of the Last Legislative Election(percent of vote by party): FijiFirst 50 percent, SODELPA 39.6 percent, NFP 7.4 percent; seats by party: FijiFirst 27, SODELPA 21, NFP 3; composition: men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6 percent
Government Spending, Taxes and Revenues
Government Budget: revenues: $885 million (2020 estimate)
expenditures: $1.515 billion (2020 estimate)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-4 percent (of GDP) (2017 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 155. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Public Debt: 48.9 percent of GDP (2017 estimate)
47.5 percent of GDP (2016 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 110. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Taxes: 19.26 percent (of GDP) (2020 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 96. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military of Fiji
Military and Security Forces: Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF): Land Force Command, Maritime Command (2023). note: the RFMF is subordinate to the president as the commander-in-chief, while the Fiji Police Force reports to the Ministry of Defense, National Security, and Policing[Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Established in 1920, the RFMF is a small and lightly-armed force with a history of intervening in the country’s politics, including coups in 1987 and 2006, and a mutiny in 2000, and it continues to have significant political power; the RFMF is responsible for external security but can be assigned some domestic security responsibilities in specific circumstances; it also has a tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, having sent troops on nearly 20 such missions since first deploying personnel to South Lebanon in 1978; these deployments have offered experience and a source of financial support; the RFMF has an infantry regiment and a small naval element comprised of patrol boats
Military Expenditures: 1.2 percent of GDP (2022 estimate)
1.5 percent of GDP (2021 estimate)
1.4 percent of GDP (2020 estimate)
1.6 percent of GDP (2019 estimate)
1.6 percent of GDP (2018 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 99 [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military Personnel: approximately 4,000 active personnel (2022). Military Service: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2022)
Military Equipment: the RFMF is lightly armed and equipped; Australia has provided patrol boats and a few armored personnel carriers; it also provides logistical support for RFMF regional or UN operations; in recent years, China has provided construction equipment and military vehicles (2023). [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military Deployments: 170 Egypt (MFO); 165 Iraq (UNAMI); 150 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2022)
International Issues Regarding Fiji
International Disputes: Fiji-Tonga: Fiji does not recognize Tonga’s 1972 claim to the Minerva Reefs and their surrounding waters; the Minerva Reefs’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone includes valuable fishing grounds
Fiji has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Fiji's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)
International Organization That It Participates In: 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, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Image Sources:
Text Sources: CIA World Factbook, 2023; “Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Volume 2: Oceania,” edited by Terence E. Hays, 1991, Wikipedia, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, BBC, CNN, and various books, websites and other publications.
Last updated August 2023