IndoFijians

Indo-Fijians are a major ethnic group in Fiji descended from Indians who were brought to the islands by the British during the colonial era to work on sugar plantations, and from later migrants who settled there. The early migrants came primarily from regions that are now in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Punjab, among others. They arrived under the indenture system from the late 19th century into the early 20th century, and when indenture ended they-many stayed and formed long‑standing communities; others came as free settlers or through family reunifications.

The community developed its own linguistic and cultural profile. Fiji Hindi, a Hindustani-derived language, is widely spoken among Indo-Fijians, alongside English and Fijian. Religiously, Hinduism is the largest affiliation, with significant Muslim and Christian communities. Culturally, Indo-Fijians have contributed to Fiji’s social and economic life, particularly in commerce, education and the sugar industry, and they observe festivals such as Diwali, Holi and Eid.

Demographically, Indo-Fijians have constituted a substantial portion of Fiji’s population. Estimates from recent censuses place them around the high 30s percent, with indigenous Fijians making up a majority of the remainder and other groups comprising a smaller share. The relationship between Indo-Fijian and indigenous Fijian communities has shaped Fiji’s politics and society, including periods of ethnic tension and constitutional reform. The Indo-Fijian diaspora is sizable in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, maintaining cultural and economic links with Fiji.