|
List All Cities in Fiji Listing cities Fiji database :
Lautoka
Suva
|
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 (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. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections.
|
|
Population
|
|
957,780 (July 2010 est.)
|
|
Government type
|
|
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
|
|
Administrative divisions
|
|
republic
|
|
Independence
|
|
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
|
|
International organization participation
|
|
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
|
|
Economy - overview
|
|
|
|
Market value of publicly traded shares
|
|
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
|
|
Agriculture - products
|
|
NA%
|
|
Industries
|
|
928 million kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Industrial production growth rate
|
|
863 million kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Electricity - production
|
|
0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil - production
|
|
2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)
|
|
Internet country code
|
|
103,000 (2008)
|
|
|
