Fiji

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. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May of 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil.
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. Area: Total: 18,270 sq km. Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than New Jersey. Coastline: 1,129 km.
Climate and Terrain: Climate: Tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation. Terrain: Mostly mountains of volcanic origin. Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m. Natural resources: Timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower. Land use: Arable land: 10%, forests and woodland: 65%.
People: Population: 844,330. Ethnic groups: Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%. Religions: Christian 52%, Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2% note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority. Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani.
Government: Government type: Republic; note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni Rabuka formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987. Capital: Suva.
Economy overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 300,000 tourists visit each year, including thousands of Americans following the start of regularly scheduled non-stop air service from Los Angeles. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact with the economy shrinking by 8% in 1999 and over 7,000 people losing their jobs. GDP - composition by sector: Agriculture: 16%, industry: 30%, services: 54%. Labor force - by occupation: Subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15%. Industries: Tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries Agriculture - products: Sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 72,000. Telephones - mobile cellular: 5,200. Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 40. Radios: 500,000. Televisions: 21,000. Internet users: 7,500. Railways: Total: 597 km. Highways: Total: 3,440 km, paved: 1,692 km, unpaved: 1,748 km. Airports - with paved runways: 3, with unpaved runways: 24.