, and there is
a Muslim minority (1986)

Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 91.6%
male: 93.8%
female: 89.3%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
conventional short form: Fiji

Data code: FJ

Type of government: republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital: Suva

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new
Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25
July 1990; the 1990 Constitution is under review; the review is
scheduled to be complete by 1997

Legal system: based on British system

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (Acting President
since 15 December 1993, President since 12 January 1994) was
appointed for a five-year term by the Great Council of Chiefs; First
Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 12 January 1994);
Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12 January 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June
1992) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Minister Timoci
VESIKULA (since NA)
Presidential Council: advises the president on matters of national
importance
Great Council of Chiefs: highest ranking members of the traditional
chiefly system
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: nonelective body, members are appointed by the president and
serve five-year terms; seats - (34 total, 24 reserved for ethnic
Fijians, 9 for Indians and others, and 1 for the island of Rotuma)
House of Representatives: members serve five-year terms; elections
last held 18-25 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (70 total, with ethnic Fijians
allocated 37 seats, ethnic Indians 27 seats, and independents and
other 6 seats) SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4, independents 2,
ANC 1