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Do not fill this in! == Society == === Demographics === {{Main|Demographics of Fiji}} {{Largest cities | country = Fiji | stat_ref = Source:<ref name=FIJICITIES>{{cite web |url=https://simplemaps.com/static/data/country-cities/fj/fj.xlsx|title=Fiji Cities by Population, 2023}}</ref> | list_by_pop = | div_name = | div_link = Provinces of Fiji{{!}}Province | city_1 = Suva| div_1 = Rewa Province{{!}}Rewa| pop_1 = 88,271| img_1 = Suva_Harbour.jpg | city_2 = Nadi | div_2 = Ba Province{{!}}Ba | pop_2 = 71,048| img_2 = Nadi 02.jpg | city_3 = Nausori| div_3 = Tailevu| pop_3 = 57,882| img_3 =Nausori Town.jpg | city_4 = Lautoka | div_4 = Ba Province{{!}}Ba | pop_4 = 52,220| img_4 = Lautoka Streets 20.jpg | city_5 = Labasa | div_5 = Macuata| pop_5 = 27,949 | city_6 = Lami, Fiji{{!}}Lami| div_6 = Rewa Province{{!}}Rewa| pop_6 = 20,529 | city_7 = Nakasi, Fiji{{!}}Nakasi| div_7 = Naitasiri | pop_7 = 18,919 | city_8 = Ba (town){{!}}Ba| div_8 = Ba Province{{!}}Ba| pop_8 = 18,526 | city_9 = Sigatoka| div_9 = Nadroga-Navosa| pop_9 = 9,622 | city_10 = Navua| div_10 = Serua Province{{!}}Serua| pop_10 = 5,812 }} The 2017 census found that the population of Fiji was 884,887, compared to the population of 837,271 in the 2007 census.<ref name=2017census/> The population density at the time of the 2007 census was 45.8 inhabitants per [[square kilometre]]. The [[life expectancy]] in Fiji was 72.1 years. Since the 1930s the population of Fiji has increased at a rate of 1.1% per year. The median age of the population was 29.9, and the gender ratio was 1.03 males per 1 female. === Ethnic groups === [[File:Fijian women ceremonial.jpg|thumb|[[Fijians|Native Fijian]] women, 1935]] The population of Fiji is mostly made up of [[Fijians|native Fijians]] (54.3%), who are [[Melanesians]], although many also have [[Polynesians|Polynesian]] ancestry; and [[Indo-Fijians]] (38.1%), descendants of [[Indian indenture system|Indian contract labourers brought to the islands]] by the British colonial powers in the 19th century. The percentage of the population of Indo-Fijian descent has declined significantly over the last two decades through migration for various reasons.<ref>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=110 Fiji Islands: From Immigration to Emigration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304101928/http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=110 |date=4 March 2010 }}. Migration Information Source.</ref> Indo-Fijians suffered reprisals for a period after the coup of 2000.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/830926.stm Future bleak for Fiji's Indians] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930074344/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/830926.stm |date=30 September 2009 }}". BBC News. July 2000.</ref><ref>"[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25339291-28737,00.html Dealing with the dictator]". ''The Australian'' (Sydney). 16 April 2009. {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians in the political arena have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The level of political tension varies among different regions of the country.<ref>{{cite web|author=Minority Rights Group International |title=Fiji Islands Overview |url=http://www.minorityrights.org/4371/fiji-islands/fiji-islands-overview.html |access-date=3 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729195456/http://www.minorityrights.org/4371/fiji-islands/fiji-islands-overview.html |archive-date=29 July 2009 }}</ref> About 1.2% of the population is [[Rotumans|Rotuman]] – natives of Rotuma Island, whose culture has more in common with countries such as Tonga or Samoa than with the rest of Fiji. There are also small but economically significant groups of Europeans, Chinese, and other Pacific island minorities. The membership of other ethnic groups is about 4.5%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fiji |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/fiji/ |website=World Fact Book |access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> 3,000 people or 0.3% of the people living in Fiji are from Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fiji.embassy.gov.au/suva/relations.html|title=Australia-Fiji relationship|website=Australian High Commission, Fiji}}</ref> The concept of family and community is of great importance to Fijian culture. Within the indigenous communities many members of the extended family will adopt particular titles and roles of direct guardians. Kinship is determined through a child's lineage to a particular spiritual leader, so that a clan is based on traditional customary ties as opposed to actual biological links. These clans, based on the spiritual leader, are known as a matangali. Within the matangali are a number of smaller collectives, known as the mbito. The descent is patrilineal, and all the status is derived from the father's side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304495447|title=Child Sexual Abuse in Fiji: Authority, Risk Factors and Responses}}</ref> === Demonym === Constitutionally, citizens of Fiji were previously referred to as "Fiji Islanders" though the term ''Fiji Nationals'' was used for official purposes. However, the current constitution refers to all Fijian citizens as "Fijians".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Government of Fiji|title=Constitution of the Republic of Fiji|date=2013|location=Suva|page=3|url=http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/8e981ca2-1757-4e27-88e0-f87e3b3b844e/Click-here-to-download-the-Fiji-Constitution.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206063023/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/8e981ca2-1757-4e27-88e0-f87e3b3b844e/Click-here-to-download-the-Fiji-Constitution.aspx|archive-date=6 February 2016}}</ref> In August 2008, shortly before the proposed [[People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress]] was due to be released to the public, it was announced that it recommended a change in the name of Fiji's citizens. If the proposal were adopted, all citizens of Fiji, whatever their ethnicity, would be called "Fijians". The proposal would change the English name of indigenous Fijians from "Fijians" to ''itaukei'', the [[Fijian language]] [[Exonym and endonym|endonym]] for indigenous Fijians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fijilive.com/news_new/index.php/news/show_news/7352 |title=Charter proposes common Fijian name |access-date=5 August 2008 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817045049/http://www.fijilive.com/news_new/index.php/news/show_news/7352 |archive-date=17 August 2008 }}, Fiji Live (4 August 2008).</ref> Deposed Prime Minister [[Laisenia Qarase]] reacted by stating that the name "Fijian" belonged exclusively to indigenous Fijians, and that he would oppose any change in legislation enabling non-indigenous Fijians to use it.<ref>[http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=080808151d4615fbbca6b1f2d9d72e "The Name "Fijian" Belongs to Indigenous – Qarase"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113005025/http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=080808151d4615fbbca6b1f2d9d72e |date=13 January 2009 }}, FijiVillage, 8 August 2008</ref> The [[Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma|Methodist Church]], to which a large majority of indigenous Fijians belong, also reacted strongly to the proposal, stating that allowing any Fiji citizen to call themselves "Fijian" would be "daylight robbery" inflicted on the indigenous population.<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=99088 "Communalism is 'to love thy neighbour'"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511090956/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=99088 |date=11 May 2011 }}, ''Fiji Times'' (29 August 2008).</ref> In an address to the nation during the constitutional crisis of April 2009, military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who has been at the forefront of the attempt to change the definition of "Fijian", stated: {{blockquote|text=I know we all have our different ethnicities, our different cultures and we should, we must, celebrate our diversity and richness. However, at the same time we are all Fijians. We are all equal citizens. We must all be loyal to Fiji; we must be patriotic; we must put Fiji first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_14715.shtml |title=PM Bainimarama – Address to the nation following appointment of Cabinet |access-date=22 April 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418183329/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_14715.shtml |archive-date=18 April 2009 }}, fiji.gov.fj (11 April 2009).</ref>}} [[File:Fiji (9476712582) (2).jpg|thumb|Fijians]] In May 2010, [[Attorney General of Fiji|Attorney-General]] [[Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum]] reiterated that the term "Fijian" should apply to all Fiji nationals, but the statement was again met with protest. A spokesperson for the Viti Landowners and Resource Owners Association claimed that even fourth-generation descendants of migrants did not fully understand "what it takes to be a Fijian", and added that the term refers to a legal standing, since legislation affords specific rights to "Fijians" (meaning, in legislation, indigenous Fijians).<ref name="RNZI_53323">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53323 |title=All Fiji nationals to be known as Fijians, says AG |date=3 May 2010 |website=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904091907/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53323 |archive-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> === Languages === {{Main|Languages of Fiji}} Fiji has three official languages under the [[1997 Constitution of Fiji|1997 constitution]] (and not revoked by the [[2013 Constitution of Fiji|2013 Constitution]]): [[English language|English]], [[Fijian language|Fijian]] (iTaukei) and [[Fiji Hindi]]. Fijian is an [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] language of the [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian family]] spoken in Fiji. It has 350,000 native speakers, and another 200,000 speak it as a second language. There are many dialects of the language across the Fiji Islands, which may be classified in two major branches—[[Central Pacific languages|eastern and western]]. Missionaries in the 1840s chose an eastern dialect, the speech of Bau Island to be the written standard of the Fijian language. Bau Island was home to Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the chief who eventually became the self-proclaimed King of Fiji. [[Fiji Hindi]], also known as Fijian Baat or Fijian Hindustani, is the language spoken by most Fijian citizens of [[India]]n descent. It is derived mainly from the [[Awadhi]] and [[Bhojpuri]] varieties of [[Hindi languages|Hindi]]. It has also borrowed a large number of words from [[Fijian language|Fijian]] and [[English language|English]]. The relation between Fiji Hindi and [[Standard Hindi]] is similar to the relation between [[Afrikaans]] and [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. Indian [[indenture]]d labourers were initially brought to Fiji mainly from districts of eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[North-West Frontier (military history)|North-West Frontier]] and [[South India]] such as from [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]. They spoke numerous, mainly Hindi, dialects and languages depending on their district of origin. English, a remnant of British colonial rule over the islands, was the sole official language until 1997 and is widely used in government, business and education as a [[lingua franca]]. {| class="wikitable" |- ! English | hello/hi | good morning | goodbye |- ! Fijian<ref>[http://www.fiji-faqs.com/index.cfm/bula/15/fijian-language.html Fijian Language] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813233105/http://www.fiji-faqs.com/index.cfm/bula/15/fijian-language.html |date=13 August 2010 }}. Fiji-faqs.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.</ref> | bula | yadra (pronounced yandra) | moce (pronounced mothe) |- ! Fiji Hindi | नमस्ते ([[Namaste]] in general)<br> राम राम (Ram Ram for Hindus)<br> {{nastaliq| السلام علیکم}} (As-salamu alaykum for Muslims) | सुप्रभात (suprabhat) | अलविदा (alavidā) |} === Religion === {{Main|Religion in Fiji}} {{Pie chart | thumb = right | caption = Religion in Fiji (2007)<ref name="2007 Census – Religion" /> | other = | label1 = [[Christians|Christian]] | value1 = 64.4 | color1 =Blue | label2 =[[Hindu]] | value2 =27.9 | color2 =DarkOrange | label3 =[[Muslim]] | value3 = 6.3 | color3 =Green | label4 =[[Sikh]] | value4 = 0.3 | color4 =Yellow | label5 =Other or none | value5 =1.1 | color5 =Black }} According to the 2007 census, 64.4% of the population at the time was [[Christians|Christian]], while 27.9% was [[Hindus|Hindu]], 6.3% [[Muslims|Muslim]], 0.8% non-religious, 0.3% [[Sikhs|Sikh]], and the remaining 0.3% belonged to other religions.<ref name="2007 Census – Religion">{{cite web|title=Population by Religion and Province of Enumeration |url=http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/index.php/document-library/doc_download/426-population-by-religion-province |website=2007 Census of Population |publisher=Fiji Bureau of Statistics |access-date=7 November 2015 |ref=2007-Census-Religion |date=June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909212947/http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/index.php/document-library/doc_download/426-population-by-religion-province |archive-date=9 September 2015 }} – Percentages are derived from total population figures provided in the source</ref> Among Christians, 54% were counted as [[Methodism|Methodist]], followed by 14.2% [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], 8.9% [[Assemblies of God]], 6.0% [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]], 1.2% [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] with the remaining 16.1% belonging to other denominations.<ref name="2007 Census – Religion" /> The largest Christian denomination is the [[Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma]]. With 34.6%<ref name="2007 Census – Religion" /> of the population (including almost two-thirds of ethnic Fijians), the proportion of the population adhering to Methodism is higher in Fiji than in any other nation. [[Catholic Church in Fiji|Fijian Catholics]] are administered by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva|Archdiocese of Suva]]. The archdiocese is the [[Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolitan see]] of an [[ecclesiastical province]] which includes the Dioceses of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga|Rarotonga]] (on the [[Cook Islands]], for those and [[Niue]], both New Zealand-associated countries) and [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru|Tarawa and Nauru]] (with see at Tarawa on [[Kiribati]], also for [[Nauru]]) and the [[Mission sui iuris of Tokelau]] (New Zealand). The Assemblies of God and the Seventh-day Adventist denominations are significantly represented. Fiji is the base for the [[Diocese of Polynesia|Anglican Diocese of Polynesia]] (part of the [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia]]).These and other denominations have small numbers of Indo-Fijian members; Christians of all kinds comprised 6.1% of the Indo-Fijian population in the 1996 census.<ref>{{cite web|title=Religion – Fiji Bureau of Statistics|url=http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/statistics/social-statistics/religion|website=www.statsfiji.gov.fj|access-date=7 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417193329/http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/statistics/social-statistics/religion|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Hindus in Fiji mostly belong to the [[Sanātanī|Sanatan]] sect (74.3% of all Hindus) or else are unspecified (22%). Muslims in Fiji are mostly [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] (96.4%). === Education === {{Further|Education in Fiji}} Fiji has a high literacy rate (91.6 percent), and although there is no compulsory education, more than 85 percent of the children between the ages of 6 and 13 attend primary school. Schooling is free and provided by both [[Government of Fiji|public]] and church-run schools. Generally, the Fijian and Hindu children attend separate schools, reflecting the political split that exists in the nation.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/466/Fiji.html|title=Fiji|website=education.stateuniversity.com|language=en|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+Education system in Fiji<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scholaro.com/pro/countries/Fiji/Education-system|title=Fiji Education System|website=www.scholaro.com|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> !Education !School/level !Grades !Years !Notes |- |Primary |Primary education |1–8 |8 |Education is not compulsory but is free through the first eight years. Schools from pre-school to secondary are mostly managed by either the government, religion (Catholic, Methodist, Sabha or Muslim) or provinces. |- |Secondary |Secondary education |9–13 |5 |Courses include carpentry, metalwork, woodwork, home economics, agricultural science, economics, accounting, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography. English and maths are compulsory. |- | rowspan="3" |Tertiary |Diploma programs | |2 | rowspan="3" |Higher education is offered at technical institutes and is structured around two-year diploma programs. There are also four or five-year professional degree programs in specific fields. |- |Bachelor's degree | |3–5 |- |Master's degree | |1–3 |} ==== Primary education ==== In Fiji, the role of government in education is to provide an environment in which children realise their full potential, and school is free from age 6 to 14. The primary school system consists of eight years of schooling and is attended by children from the ages of 6 to 14 years. Upon completion of primary school, a certificate is awarded and the student is eligible to take the secondary school examination.<ref name=":3" /> ==== Secondary education ==== High school education may continue for a total of five years following an entry examination. Students either leave after three years with a Fiji school leaving certificate, or remain on to complete their final two years and qualify for tertiary education.<ref name=":4" /> Entry into the secondary school system, which is a total of five years, is determined by a competitive examination. Students passing the exam then follow a three-year course that leads to the Fiji School Leaving Certificate and the opportunity to attend senior secondary school. At the end of this level, they may take the Form VII examination, which covers four or five subjects. Successful completion of this process gains students access to higher education.<ref name=":3" /> ==== Tertiary education ==== The [[University of the South Pacific]], called the crossroads of the South Pacific because it serves ten English-speaking territories in the South Pacific, is the major provider of higher education. Admission to the university requires a secondary school diploma, and all students must take a one-year foundation course at the university regardless of their major. Financing for the university is derived from school fees, funds from the Fiji government and other territories, and aid from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In addition to the university, Fiji also has teacher-training colleges, as well as [[Medicine|medical]], [[Technology|technological]], and [[Agriculture|agricultural]] schools. Primary school teachers are trained for two years, whereas secondary [[Teacher|school teachers]] train for three years; they then have the option to receive a diploma in education or read for a bachelor's degree in arts or science and continue for an additional year to earn a [[postgraduate certificate]] of education. The Fiji Polytechnic School offers training in various trades, apprenticeship courses, and other courses that lead to diplomas in [[engineering]], [[Hotel, Catering and Personal Services Union|hotel catering]], and [[business studies]]. Some of the course offerings can also lead to several City and Guilds of [[London Institute]] Examinations. In addition to the traditional educational system, Fiji also offers the opportunity to obtain an education through distance learning. The University Extension Service provides centres and a network of terminals in most regional areas. For students taking non-credit courses, no formal qualifications are necessary. However, students who enroll in the credit courses may be awarded the appropriate degree or certificate upon successful completion of their studies through the extension services. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page