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The People Of Fiji.

The people of Fiji are of mixed Melanesian-Polynesian stock; their language, Fijian, is spoken in many dialects. Most Fijians are Methodist or Catholics. Asian Indians, descendants of laborers who migrated to Fiji to work on sugar plantations in 1879, composed about one-half of the population and slightly outnumbered the Fijians in the early 1980s. The emigration of the Indian population after the coup d'état of 1987 and again after the Coup of May 2000 resulted in the reemergence of a slight Fijian majority. Most of the Indians are Hindu, but some are Muslim or Sikhs. Intermarriage is very rare between Indians and Fijians. Indians and Fijians attend separate schools, places of religion. Fiji's birth and death rates are lower than those for Micronesia and Polynesia as a whole, and its average annual rate of population growth is somewhat higher than for most other countries in in the Pacific Islands. Most of Fiji's total population is less than 20 years of age. About two-thirds of the nation's population lives outside cities and in rural areas. Though Fijian cities, when compared to those of the America, Japan or other large countries, are very small indeed. The capital of Suva has around 100,000, and the other major cities, considerably less. Fiji is perhaps the most cosmopolitan of all South Pacific nations. Its population, just fewer than 1,000,000, is an blend of indigenous Fijians (44%), Indians (45%), and with the remainder being part-Europeans, Rotumans, Chinese, Europeans, and other Pacific Islanders.

Flag of Fiji

Fijians, the indigenous inhabitants of Fiji, are traditionally classified as Melanesian but after many years of intermingling with Polynesians (notably Tongans) has produced a mixture of Melanesian\Polynesian physical characteristics within the Fijian population. Fijian customs reflect the utmost dignity and courtesy toward the visitor or guests. There are particular ceremonies for every occasion, including the formal presentation of tabua (a whale's tooth), a gift of food, clothing or other Kari-Kari, or more commonly a kilogram of yaqona. The drinking of yaqona (kava) is a national beverage. A visitor to even a bank or government office might be offered yaqona and should graciously accept a `bilo' (cup). The Rotumans are a distinct Polynesian ethnic group who come from the island of Rotuma (located 386 km northwest of Fiji). They enjoy full citizenship, and many have settled on Viti Levu in order to find greater economic opportunity than they could at home. Although a separate racial and cultural group, Rotumans have always assimilated easily and see themselves as an intrinsic part of the Fijian nation.

The second largest ethnic of the groups are the Fiji Indians, who came to the islands as indentured laborers in the late 19th century . Many are shopkeepers, professionals and cane farmers. After the 1987 and 2000 coups many Fiji Indians migrated to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Chinese first came to Fiji in 1911. Many have intermarried with the local population. Since the 1987 coup and the departure of many Fiji Indian professionals after the troubles of May of 2000, there has been a new influx of Chinese to Fiji from the Peoples Republic of China and other Chinese communities in the world .

A small number of Europeans live on Fiji.

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