Fiji

In brief

Fiji is a country in Melanesia (Oceania). Its capital is Suva. With 933,154 inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 158th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 18,272 km². An island nation, Fiji has no land border.

GDP per capita stands at $6,642 (2025), 102nd in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 67.5 years (2024). 60% of the population lives in cities.

History of Fiji

Settled about 3,000 years ago, Fiji was ceded to Britain in 1874 by the chief Cakobau. The British brought Indian workers for the sugarcane plantations: their descendants form a large part of the population. Independent on 10 October 1970, Fiji has seen several coups, in 1987, 2000 and 2006. In 2016 its rugby sevens team won the country’s first ever Olympic medal, a gold.

Geography of Fiji

An archipelago of about 330 islands, around a hundred of them inhabited. The two largest, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, are volcanic and mountainous; coral reefs surround most of the islands.

Map of Fiji

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Flag of Fiji

The flag of Fiji is red, white and blue. Its official proportions are 1:2 (height to width).

• Blue74%
• Red13%
• White11%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Light blue, with the Union Jack and the shield from the coat of arms: the British lion, sugarcane, a coconut palm, bananas and the dove of peace.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Fiji” and “Flag of Fiji”.

See also: flags with a cross.

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Fact file

Economy and society