Compare Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001) - Fiji (2002)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001)

Fiji (2002)

Administrative divisions

-

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Age structure

-

0-14 years: 32.5% (male 141,757; female 136,198)

15-64 years: 63.8% (male 273,658; female 273,100)

65 years and over: 3.7% (male 14,648; female 16,985) (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Airports

-

27 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

-

total: 3

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

-

total: 24

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 18 (2002)

Area

total:
5 sq km

land:
5 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island

total: 18,270 sq km

land: 18,270 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Background

These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations.

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). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. 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. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.

Birth rate

-

23.2 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Budget

-

revenues: $427.9 million

expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Capital

-

Suva

Climate

tropical

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

74.1 km

1,129 km

Constitution

-

promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level

Country name

conventional long form:
Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

conventional short form:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands

conventional short form: Fiji

Currency

-

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Death rate

-

5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Debt - external

-

$162.7 million (1999)

Dependency status

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON

embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva

mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva

telephone: [679] 314466

FAX: [679] 300081

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE

chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320

FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

-

$40.3 million (1995) (1995)

Economy - overview

no economic activity

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 - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact with the economy shrinking by 2.8% in 2000 and growing by only 1% in 2001. The Fiji Visitor's Bureau expects visitor arrivals to reach pre-coup levels during 2002. The government's ability to manage its budget - which is expected to run a net deficit of 6% in 2002 - will depend upon a return of political stability and investor confidence.

Electricity - consumption

-

478.95 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

-

515 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 18%

hydro: 82%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2000)

Elevation extremes

lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location 3 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Environment - current issues

NA

deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

-

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

-

Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Exchange rates

-

Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.2934 (January 2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997)

Executive branch

-

chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA 2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)

head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000); Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since NA 2000)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system

elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%

Exports

-

$572 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities

-

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports - partners

-

Australia 24.9%, US 20.8%, UK 14.4%, Japan 5.1%, other Pacific island countries 5.0%, NZ 3.6% (2000)

Fiscal year

-

calendar year

Flag description

the flag of Australia is used

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

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 17%

industry: 25%

services: 58% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $5,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

1% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

12 14 S, 123 05 E

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Geography - note

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Highways

-

total: 3,440 km

paved: 1,692 km

unpaved: 1,748 km (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Imports

-

$833 million c.i.f. (2000)

Imports - commodities

-

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

-

Australia 46.2%, NZ 13.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Japan 4.5%, Hong Kong 3.8%, US 3.2%, Taiwan 3.0% (2000)

Independence

-

10 October 1970 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Infant mortality rate

-

13.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

3% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

-

ACP, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1993)

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Labor force

-

137,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

-

agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
100% (all grass and sand)

arable land: 10.95%

permanent crops: 4.65%

other: 84.4% (1998 est.)

Languages

-

English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Legal system

the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply

based on British system

Legislative branch

-

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)

elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August, 2 September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2006)

election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%, other 16.5%; seats by party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NFP 1, independents 2, other 3

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: 68.56 years

male: 66.13 years

female: 71.11 years (2002 est.)

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.5%

male: 90%

female: 95% (1999 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references

Southeast Asia

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone:
12 NM

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT

ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4
(2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

-

Military branches

-

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces, naval division

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$35 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

2.2% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability

-

males age 15-49: 231,649 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49: 127,384 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

-

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

-

males: 9,471 (2002 est.)

National holiday

-

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Nationality

-

noun: Fijian(s)

adjective: Fijian

Natural hazards

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources

fish

timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Net migration rate

-

-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Political parties and leaders

-

Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [leader NA]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [leader NA]; Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; Fijian Association Party of FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED]; Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE]; General Voters Party or GHP [leader NA]; Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Attar SINGH]; Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party or NVTLP [Samisoni BOLATAGICI]; New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [leader NA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

NA

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note:
there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.)

856,346 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

26% (1990-91 )

Population growth rate

-

1.41% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

541,476 (1999)

Railways

-

total: 597 km

narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge

note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation (1995)

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 (1986)

Sex ratio

-

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Suffrage

-

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

-

general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center

domestic: NA

international: access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

-

80,901 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

5,200 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

-

NA

Terrain

low with sand and coral

mostly mountains of volcanic origin