vatu

Vatu is the unit of currency used in Fiji. The official currency of Fiji is the Fiji dollar, abbreviated as FJD, and it is subdivided into 100 cents. The word vatu comes from the Fijian language and historically refers to money, with roots in traditional forms such as stones or shells used in barter before modern coinage. Today, vatu is the local name for the currency unit and appears on banknotes and coins issued in the country.

Currency issuance and regulation are handled by the Reserve Bank of Fiji, which designs and circulates banknotes and coins for daily use. The currency is commonly denoted with the symbol FJ$, and prices are typically quoted in vatu. Banknotes feature imagery related to Fiji’s culture, history, and natural landscape, while coins cover the lower denominations used in everyday transactions.

The vatu is widely used in Fiji's domestic commerce and is also encountered in tourism and international business conducted with Fiji. Its value fluctuates in relation to other currencies on international markets, and the Fiji dollar operates within a monetary policy framework aimed at macroeconomic stability and growth.