Fiji

Fiji is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising hundreds of islands and smaller islets; about 100 of its islands are inhabited. The two largest are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Suva, the national capital, lies on Viti Levu's southeastern coast. Many of the islands have volcanic origins and are fringed by coral reefs. Fiji's official statistics bureau projected the country's population at 902,623 for 2026, or about 903,000 people.

Fiji's society includes Indigenous iTaukei communities, people of Indian descent and other Pacific and migrant communities. Many Indo-Fijians descend from workers brought from India during British colonial rule to labour in the sugar industry. English, iTaukei (Fijian) and Hindi are the three languages specified for official use by Fiji's 2013 Constitution. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are among the country's major religions. These communities and traditions give the country a diverse cultural life, while the histories of migration, land and political representation have also shaped its modern society.

The islands had established local political systems before European colonial rule. Fiji became a British Crown colony in 1874 and achieved independence on 10 October 1970. Political life after independence included military coups in 1987, 2000 and 2006. The constitution adopted in 2013 provides the framework for the present parliamentary republic: the president is head of state, the prime minister leads the government, and legislation is made by a unicameral Parliament. Fiji's history reflects both Indigenous political traditions and the lasting effects of colonial administration and migration.

Tourism is a leading economic activity. Agriculture remains important as well, including subsistence farming and commercial production of sugarcane; manufacturing and services also contribute to the economy, including industries that serve neighbouring Pacific markets. One prominent heritage site is Levuka Historical Port Town on Ovalau. Fiji's first colonial capital, Levuka developed from the early nineteenth century as a port and commercial centre around Indigenous villages. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List in 2013, recognizing its distinctive combination of local settlement traditions and colonial-era port development.