1984 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1984 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
18,376 km2; consists of more than 300 islands and many more coral atolls and cays; the larger islands — Viti Levu, Taveuni, and Kadavu — are mountainous and volcanic in origin, with peaks rising over 1,210 meters; land ownership — 83.6% Fijians, 7.2% European, 6.4% government, 1.7% Indians, 1.1% other; about 30% of land area is suitable for farming Water
Coastline
1,129km People
Ethnic divisions
50% Indian, 45% Fijian; 5% European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and others
Labor force
176,000(1979); 43.8% agriculture, 15.6% industry
Language
English (official), Fijian, Hindustani spoken among Indians
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm (200 nm economic zone; 200 nm fishing zone)
Literacy
80%
Nationality
noun — Fijian(s); adjective — Fijian
Population
686,000 (July 1984), average annual growth rate 2.1%
Religion
Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu with a Muslim minority