Compare Paracel Islands (2006) - Fiji (2005)

Paracel Islands (2006)

Fiji (2005)

Administrative divisions

-

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

Age structure

-

0-14 years: 31.4% (male 143,066/female 137,346)

15-64 years: 64.5% (male 288,434/female 287,720)

65 years and over: 4.1% (male 16,797/female 19,991) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

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

Airports

1 (2006)

28 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

total: 3

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

-

total: 25

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)

Area

total: NA sq km

land: NA sq km

water: 0 sq km

total: 18,270 sq km

land: 18,270 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

NA

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Background

The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

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 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

-

22.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

-

revenues: $427.9 million

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

Capital

-

Suva (Viti Levu)

Climate

tropical

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

518 km

1,129 km

Constitution

-

promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Paracel Islands

conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands

conventional short form: Fiji

Death rate

-

5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

-

$188.1 million (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

-

chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON

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

-

chief of mission: Mr. Paula NAVUNISARAVI (Charge D'Affaires ad Interim)

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

telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320

FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996

Disputes - international

occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

none

Economic aid - recipient

-

$40.3 million (1995)

Economy - overview

China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

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, but is inefficient. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Yet 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

-

697.5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

-

750 million kWh (2002)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 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

-

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 - 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000)

Executive branch

-

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; 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

-

NA

Exports - commodities

-

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

Exports - partners

-

US 24%, Australia 19%, UK 12.6%, Samoa 6.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

Fiscal year

-

calendar year

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

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 16.6%

industry: 22.4%

services: 61% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

3.6% (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

16 30 N, 112 00 E

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Geography - note

composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Highways

-

total: 3,440 km

paved: 1,692 km

unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Imports

-

NA

Imports - commodities

-

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

Imports - partners

-

Australia 25.9%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 21.1% (2004)

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

-

total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

1.6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

-

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Irrigated land

0 sq km

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%

other: 100% (2005)

arable land: 10.95%

permanent crops: 4.65%

other: 84.4% (2001)

Languages

-

English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Legal system

-

based on British system

Legislative branch

-

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the President on the advice of 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 through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2006)

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

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: 69.53 years

male: 67.05 years

female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.7%

male: 95.5%

female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

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

NA

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 (1,000 GRT or over) 6,372 GRT/7,453 DWT

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

foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2005)

Military - note

occupied by China

-

Military branches

-

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Division (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$36 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

2.2% (FY02)

National holiday

-

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Nationality

-

noun: Fijian(s)

adjective: Fijian

Natural hazards

typhoons

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Natural resources

none

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

Net migration rate

-

-3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Political parties and leaders

-

Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party); 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) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

NA

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

893,354 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

25.5% (1990-91)

Population growth rate

-

1.4% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva

Radio broadcast stations

-

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) (2003)

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: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 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: country code - 679; 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

-

102,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

109,900 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

-

NA

Terrain

mostly low and flat

mostly mountains of volcanic origin