Fijis

The Fijis, commonly referred to as Fiji, is a sovereign island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It comprises about 330 islands and more than 500 islets, with Viti Levu and Vanua Levu as the largest landmasses. The capital and largest city is Suva, located on Viti Levu. The archipelago lies northeast of New Zealand and east of Australia, and lies within the realm of Melanesia.

Fiji features a tropical maritime climate with warm temperatures year‑round, a wet season and a dry season, and seasonal rainfall that supports rich island ecosystems. The terrain is mountainous and volcanic on some islands, with extensive coral reefs and coastal plains. The country is vulnerable to tropical cyclones and sea‑level rise linked to climate change.

As of the early 2020s, the population was around 900,000. Fiji is ethnically diverse, with indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians forming the two largest communities. English is the official language; Fijian (iTaukei) and Fiji Hindi are widely spoken. The country practices a pluralist society with influences from indigenous culture, Indian, Pacific, and Christian traditions.

Fiji is a unitary parliamentary republic. Independence from the United Kingdom was achieved in 1970. The 2013 constitution, implemented in 2014, provides for a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government, with a unicameral Parliament. The economy relies on tourism, sugar, and agriculture, with services and light manufacturing expanding. The currency is the Fijian dollar (FJD). Cultural life includes ceremonies, music, crafts, and kava, reflecting the mixture of communities that inhabit the islands.