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Oceania · The modern island states
Fiji
1970–present
Fiji is the Pacific state that has been independent twice over in its own constitution — a British colony until 1970, a republic after 1987, and a country whose politics have been defined by the relationship between its indigenous Fijian majority and its Indo-Fijian population, and by four coups between 1987 and 2006.
- Existed
- 1970–present
- Shown on the map
- 1973–present
- Peak area
- 22k km²
- Region
- Oceania
At a glance
| Name | Republic of Fiji; Matanitu Tugalala o Viti |
| Dates | 1970–present (the site draws 1973–2024) |
| Where | An archipelago of more than 330 islands in the South Pacific |
| Capital | Suva, on Viti Levu |
| Population | About 930,000, roughly half indigenous Fijian and a third Indo-Fijian |
| Government | Parliamentary republic |
| Economy | Tourism, sugar, remittances and fisheries |
| Independence | 10 October 1970 |
How did independence happen?
Through negotiation, and with a constitution designed to balance two communities. Fiji became independent on 10 October 1970 under a constitution that guaranteed indigenous Fijian political dominance while protecting Indo-Fijian rights; the population was then almost evenly divided between the two, descendants of indentured labourers brought by the British to work the sugar plantations.
The 1970 constitution lasted seventeen years. Its cross-voting system was designed to produce multiracial government, and it did — until the election of 1987, when an Indo-Fijian-led coalition won and the army intervened.
What were the coups?
Four, in 1987 and 2000 and 2006. In May 1987 Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew the government of Timoci Bavadra, the first Indo-Fijian-led government, and a second coup followed in September; the monarchy was abolished and Fiji became a republic in 1987, though it kept its place in the Commonwealth and its ties with New Zealand and Vanuatu. In 2000 a civilian coup by George Speight held parliament hostage for weeks. In 2006 Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrew the government and ruled until 2014, when elections restored civilian rule.
The coups were about ethnicity, land and power, and they had economic consequences: emigration, a decline in the sugar industry, and international suspension from the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum.
What is the constitution now?
The 2013 constitution, adopted under Bainimarama's government, abolished the ethnic roll and created a single national electorate, a bill of rights and a strong executive. It was contested by the opposition, and the 2022 election — which produced a coalition government under Sitiveni Rabuka, the coup leader of 1987 — was followed by disputes over the constitution and the role of the military.
What is the economy?
Tourism, sugar, remittances and fish. Tourism is the largest foreign-exchange earner, sugar has declined, and remittances from Fijians abroad are a major support; the country is vulnerable to cyclones and to the global tourism cycle, as COVID-19 showed when the borders closed in 2020.
Common myths about Fiji
| Myth | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| Fiji became a republic at independence | It became a republic after the 1987 coups. |
| The coups were about socialism | They were about ethnic Fijian political dominance, land and power. |
| Fiji is a two-party democracy | It has had four coups and several constitutions since 1970. |
| The 2013 constitution was consensual | It was adopted under a military-backed government and remains contested. |
| Indo-Fijians are a majority | They are about a third of the population; indigenous Fijians are a majority. |
| Tourism is unaffected by politics | Coups and the pandemic both hit it hard. |
Timeline of Fiji
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 October 1970 | Independence |
| 1987 | Two coups; Fiji becomes a republic |
| 1997 | A new constitution |
| 2000 | Speight coup |
| 2006 | Bainimarama coup |
| 2013 | New constitution |
| 2022 | Coalition government under Rabuka |
What the map shows next
At 1999 on the map Fiji is a republic, and the Kingdom of Fiji is a century gone.
At 2024 on the map the coalition government is in office, and the New Zealand relationship is close.
Common questions
- When did Fiji become independent?
- On 10 October 1970.
- When did it become a republic?
- After the 1987 coups.
- How many coups has Fiji had?
- Four: two in 1987, one in 2000 and one in 2006.
- Who is the prime minister?
- Sitiveni Rabuka, since the 2022 election coalition.
- What is the population?
- About 930,000, with indigenous Fijians a majority and Indo-Fijians about a third.
- What is the economy based on?
- Tourism, sugar, remittances and fisheries.
- What was the 2013 constitution?
- A single-electorate constitution adopted under Bainimarama, which abolished the ethnic rolls.
- What is the Great Council of Chiefs?
- The chiefly council abolished in 2012 and revived in 2023.
- Why does the map start in 1973?
- It is a dataset date; independence was 1970.
- Is Fiji a monarchy?
- No: it became a republic in 1987.
Sources
Every source below was consulted while writing this entry.
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics.
- Fiji government and parliament records.
- Commonwealth and Pacific Islands Forum statements.
- Fraenkel and Firth, on Fiji's politics.
Data sources for the map
- Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0).
- Historical Basemaps (GPL-3.0).
This entry was written from the sources above and last updated .
Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0: reuse it with a credit to The World Through Time and a link to this page.
Border geometry for the map itself comes from Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC-BY-4.0).
See Fiji in its world
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