Map of Fiji
Fiji is a country in Oceania with its capital at Suva, home to about 933,154 people across 18,274 km². The interactive map below plots 4 cities and towns, 1 mountain summits and 2 ports recorded for Fiji in YearMaps.
- Population
- 933,154
- Area
- 18,274 km²
- Capital
- Suva
- Continent
- Oceania
Interactive Map of Fiji
Centred on Suva at 18.1330° S, 178.4417° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Fiji
Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an archipelagic country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The most outlying island group is Ono-i-Lau. About 87% of the total population live on the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in the capital city of Suva, or in smaller urban centres such as Nadi (where tourism is the major local industry) or Lautoka (where the sugar-cane industry is dominant). The interior of Viti Levu is sparsely inhabited because of its terrain.
The majority of Fiji's islands were formed by volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago. Some geothermal activity still occurs today on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. The geothermal systems on Viti Levu are non-volcanic in origin and have low-temperature surface discharges of between roughly 35 and 60 degrees Celsius (95 and 140 °F).
Humans have lived in Fiji since the second millennium BC — first Austronesians and later Melanesians, with some Polynesian influences. Europeans first visited Fiji in the 17th century. In 1874, after a brief period in which Fiji was an independent kingdom, the British established the Colony of Fiji. Fiji operated as a Crown colony until 1970, when it gained independence and became known as the Dominion of Fiji. In 1987, following a series of coups d'état, the military government that had taken power declared it a republic. In a 2006 coup, Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power. In 2009, the Fijian High Court ruled that the military leadership was unlawful. At that point, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom the military had retained as the nominal head of state, formally abrogated the 1997 Constitution and re-appointed Bainimarama as interim prime minister. Later in 2009, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau succeeded Iloilo as president. On 17 September 2014, after years of delays, a democratic election took place. Bainimarama's FijiFirst party won 59.2% of the vote, and international observers deemed the election credible.
Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific through its abundant forest, mineral, and fish resources.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Fiji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Fiji
Austronesians settled Fiji around 1000 B.C., followed by successive waves of Melanesians starting around the first century A.D. Fijians traded with Polynesian groups in Samoa and Tonga, and by about 900, much of Fiji was in the Tu’i Tongan Empire’s sphere of influence. The Tongan influence declined significantly by 1200, while Melanesian seafarers continued to periodically arrive in Fiji, further mixing Melanesian and Polynesian cultural traditions. The first European spotted Fiji in 1643 and by the 1800s, European merchants, missionaries, traders, and whalers frequented the islands. Rival kings and chiefs competed for power, at times aided by Europeans, and in 1865, Seru Epenisa CAKOBAU united many groups into the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti. The arrangement proved weak, however, and in 1871 CAKOBAU formed the Kingdom of Fiji in an attempt to centralize power. Fearing a hostile takeover by a foreign power as the kingdom’s economy began to falter, CAKOBAU ceded Fiji to the UK in 1874. The first British governor set up a plantation-style economy and brought in more than 60,000 Indians as indentured laborers, most of whom chose to stay in Fiji rather than return to India when their contracts expired. In the early 1900s, society was divided along ethnic lines, with iTaukei (indigenous Fijians), Europeans, and Indo-Fijians living in separate areas and maintaining their own languages and traditions. ITaukei fears of an Indo-Fijian takeover of government delayed independence through the 1960s; Fiji achieved independence in 1970 with agreements to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. After two coups in 1987, a new constitution in 1990 cemented iTaukei control of politics, leading thousands of Indo-Fijians to leave. A reformed constitution in 1997 was more equitable and led to the election of an Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999, who was ousted in a coup the following year. In 2005, the new prime minister put forward a bill that would grant pardons to the coup perpetrators, leading Josaia Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and retained the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible. BAINIMARAMA's party lost control of the prime minister position after elections in 2022 with former opposition leader Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA winning the office by a narrow margin.
- Location
- Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.
- Climate
- Tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation.
- Terrain
- Mostly mountains of volcanic origin.
- Highest point
- Tomanivi 1,324 m.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 1,129 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- Timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 17.1% (2023 est.); arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 3.4% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.); forest: 61.7% (2023 est.); other: 21.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Cyclonic storms can occur from November to January.
- Geographic note
- Consists of 332 islands, approximately 110 of which are inhabited, and more than 500 islets.
- Languages
- English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)
- Religions
- Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- ITaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 est.)
- Economy
- Upper-middle income, tourism-based Pacific island economy; susceptible to ocean rises; key energy and infrastructure investments; post-pandemic tourism resurgence; improved debt standing; limited workforce.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Fiji in Numbers
- Population
- 933,154
- GDP
- US$6.2 billion
- GDP per person
- US$6,642
- Life expectancy
- 67.5 years
- Population growth
- 0.47% a year
- Population density
- 51 per km²
- Urban population
- 59.5%
- Surface area
- 18,333 km²
- Forest cover
- 61.7%
- Arable land
- 4.2%
- Access to electricity
- 95.9%
- Internet users
- 74.7%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Fiji in Depth
History
Pottery art from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled by Austronesian peoples by at least 3500 to 1000 BC, with Melanesians following around a thousand years later, although there are still many open questions about the specific dates and patterns of human migration. It is believed that either the Lapita people or the ancestors of the Polynesians settled the islands first, but not much is known of what became of them after the Melanesians arrived; the old culture may have had some influence on the new one, and archaeological evidence shows that some of the migrants moved on to Samoa, Tonga and even Hawai'i. Archeological evidence also shows signs of human settlement on Moturiki Island beginning at least by 600 BC and possibly as far back as 900 BC.
Geography
Fiji lies approximately 5,100 km (3,200 mi) southwest of Hawaii and roughly 3,150 km (1,960 mi) from Sydney, Australia. Fiji is the hub of the Southwest Pacific, midway between Vanuatu and Tonga. The archipelago is located between 176° 53′ east and 178° 12′ west. The archipelago is roughly 498,000 square miles (1,290,000 km2) and less than 2 percent is dry land. The 180° meridian runs through Taveuni, but the International Date Line is bent to give uniform time (UTC+12) to all of the Fiji group. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. Rotuma is located 220 nautical miles (410 km; 250 mi) north of the group, 360 nautical miles (670 km; 410 mi) from Suva, 12° 30′ south of the equator.
Economy
Endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Some progress was experienced by this sector when Marion M. Ganey introduced credit unions to the islands in the 1950s. Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil, and hydropower. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the 1980s. The coups of 1987 caused further contraction.
Economic liberalisation in the years following the coups created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty regarding land tenure in the sugar industry.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Fiji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Fiji: Key Facts
| Currency | Fijian dollar |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Fijian, Fiji Hindi |
| Head of state | Wiliame Katonivere |
| Head of government | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Calling code | +679 |
| Internet domain | .fj |
| Highest point | Mount Tomanivi |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean |
| Established | 1970 |
Facts from Wikidata Q712 (CC0).
History of Fiji: Empires and States
The atlas records 4 polities whose mapped territory included part of Fiji, from Kingdom of Fiji in 1871 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of Fiji | 1871–1876 CE | Nearly all |
| British Colonial Empire | 1877–1995 CE | Nearly all |
| The British Empire | 1877–1995 CE | Nearly all |
| Republic of Fiji | 1973–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Fiji
Fiji (Fijian: Viti, Hindi: फ़िजी) (sometimes called the Fiji Islands) is an archipelago nation in Melanesia in the Pacific Ocean. It lies 2000 km north of New Zealand and consists of 332 islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu being the largest ones. Set within miles of open ocean, Fiji offers a spiritual heritage and natural beauty in the tropical setting of its atmosphere.
Fiji's main attraction is its paradise-like nature, with perfect palm-lined beaches, blue waters and green inland hills. Relax on the gorgeous sandy beaches of the Mamanuca Islands. Dive for the dark limestone Sawa-i-Lau cave in the Yasawa Islands. Discover the sand dunes of the Sigatoka Valley, once used as a burial ground, or head deep into Viti Levu to see Fiji's inland wildlife at the beautiful and jungle-covered Kulu Eco Park. From virtually any of the islands you can dive to experience Fiji's underwater beauty, or take a challenging hike along the ridges and through the dense rain forest of Bouma National Park, on Taveuni.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Fiji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Fiji
4 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suva | 175,399 | Central | National capital |
| 2 | Lautoka | 55,894 | Western | Populated place |
| 3 | Nandi | 42,284 | Western | Populated place |
| 4 | Labasa | 24,187 | Western | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Fiji
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomanivi | 1,323 m | 4,341 ft | Oceania |
Tomanivi
Mountain · 1,323 m
Tomanivi is a mountain rising to 1,323 metres (4,341 ft) in Fiji, in the Oceania region.
Mount Tomanivi, previously named Mount Victoria and also known as Tomaniivi, is an extinct volcano located in the northern highlands of Viti Levu. At 1,324 metres (4,344 ft), Mount Tomanivi is the highest mountain in Fiji. A trail leads to the summit of Tomanivi from the village of Navai. The main river systems, the Rewa, Navua, Sigatoka, and Ba, all have their headwaters in the central mountain area.
Tomanivi contains a significant proportion of the highest-altitude montane forest in Fiji. This is an important habitat for birds and other biodiversity. A 17,500 hectares (43,000 acres) area covering the slopes of Tomanivi is the Greater Tomaniivi Important Bird Area. The Important Bird Area combines Tomaniivi Nature Reserve and Wabu Forest Reserve with other contiguous forests to form a single forest block. It is seen as the best hope for the critically endangered red-throated lorikeet surviving anywhere in the world. It also supports populations of endangered long-legged warblers, and the vulnerable shy ground-dove and pink-billed parrotfinch.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Tomanivi (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,323 m (4,341 ft)
- Global rank
- #518 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Oceania (#30)
- Subregion
- Melanesia
- Country
- Fiji
- Coordinates
- -17.6142°, 178.0168°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Tomanivi ranks #518 by elevation, below Haltiatunturi (1,328 m) and above Vesuvio (1,281 m).
- Ranges:
- Southern Alps (Oceania), Owen Stanley Range (Oceania)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Mauga Silisili (1,858 m), Mount Tabwemasana (1,877 m), Mont Humboldt (1,618 m)
More about Tomanivi
Tomanivi: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,324 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q1513944 (CC0).
Ports in Fiji
2 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savusavu Bay | 56.7 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
| 2 | Levuka | 16.5 m | Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Fiji
1 World Heritage Site recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Levuka Historical Port Town | 2013 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
Largest Islands of Fiji
6 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
Countries Bordering Fiji
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Oceania
Fiji: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Fiji?
- The capital of Fiji is Suva.
- What is the population of Fiji?
- Fiji has a population of about 933,154, the #161 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Fiji?
- Fiji covers 18,274 km², ranking #158 by area, with about 51 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Fiji in?
- Fiji is in Oceania.
- Which countries border Fiji?
- Fiji shares a land or maritime border with Solomon Islands.
- What is the largest city in Fiji?
- Suva is the largest city in Fiji, with a metropolitan population of about 175,399.
- What is the highest mountain in Fiji?
- The highest summit recorded for Fiji in YearMaps is Tomanivi at 1,323 m (4,341 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.