Part 246

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark

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@Fiji ----

Map ---

Location: 18 00 S, 175 00 E -- Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Flag ----

Description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total area: 18,270 sq km land area: 18,270 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,129 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential

Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 65% other: 19%

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling

Geographic note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

People ------

Population: 782,381 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 141,652; female 135,829) 15-64 years: 62% (male 240,621; female 240,620) 65 years and over: 3% (male 11,235; female 12,424) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.28% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 23.37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)