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Compare Christmas Island (2004) - Fiji (2006)

Compare Christmas Island (2004) z Fiji (2006)

 Christmas Island (2004)Fiji (2006)
 Christmas IslandFiji
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 143,847/female 138,061)


15-64 years: 64.6% (male 293,072/female 292,312)


65 years and over: 4.3% (male 17,583/female 21,074) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products NA sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 28 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 18,270 sq km


land: 18,270 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. 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). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 22.55 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $720.5 million


expenditures: $728.3 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital The Settlement 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)
Climate tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 80 km 1,129 km
Constitution NA enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
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
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) -
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external NA $127 million (2004 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER


embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva


mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva


telephone: [679] 331-4466


FAX: [679] 330-0081
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Jesoni VITUSAGAVULU


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


telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320


FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient NA $63.9 million (2004)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in mid-2004 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, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Yet, because of a tourist boom, short-run economic prospects are good, provided tensions do not again erupt between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 721.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production NA kWh 775.7 million kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999) Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000)


head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament


elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA
Exports NA NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities phosphate sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners Australia, NZ US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa 4.1% (2005)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory 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 - NA -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 8.9%


industry: 13.5%


services: 77.6% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA -
GDP - real growth rate NA 1.7% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 18 00 S, 175 00 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities consumer goods manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners principally Australia Singapore 27.4%, Australia 23.6%, NZ 18.9%, Thailand 4.5% (2005)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 10 October 1970 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA NA%
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA (2004 est.)
total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA 3% (2005)
International organization participation none ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km 30 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Labor force NA 137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation NA agriculture: 70%


industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
arable land: 10.95%


permanent crops: 4.65%


other: 84.4% (2005)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on British system
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 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 through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held 6-13 May 2006)


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 27.5%, FLP 26.5%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, NFP 1.2%, independents 1.4%, UGP .3%; seats by party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NLUP 2, NFP 1, independents 2, UGP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2004 est.)
total population: 69.82 years


male: 67.32 years


female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 93.7%


male: 95.5%


female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia 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 territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Merchant marine - total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,867 GRT/8,432 DWT


by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2


foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $36 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.2% (FY02)
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: Fijian(s)


adjective: Fijian
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Natural resources phosphate, beaches timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
People - note The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census -
Political parties and leaders none Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or CAMV [Ratu Josefa DIMURI]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 396 (July 2004 est.) 905,949 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 25.5% (1990-91)
Population growth rate -9% (2004 est.) 1.4% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways - total: 597 km


narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge


note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2005)
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) 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
Sex ratio NA (2004 est.) 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: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage - 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
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: country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; 2 satellite earth stations - 2 INMARSAT (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 102,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 142,200 (2004)
Television broadcast stations NA NA
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2004 est.) 2.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 7.6% (1999)
Waterways - 203 km


note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2004)
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