The Islands of Fiji. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2016, from http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/geog/tdfpacific/fiji.html
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This map shows the annual precipitation that occurs in Fiji throughout the year. There is a higher precipitation rate in the Southeast region then there is in the Northwest. The majority of the population is located there due to this because of the opportunities it provides to grow crops. |
Fiji is an independent state that is located in the Oceania continent, it is the 158th largest state. The legend about how Fiji was discovered goes, Chief Lutunasobasoba led his people, the Melanesians and the Polynesians, across the sea to the land of what is now Fiji. However, the Europeans also discovered the island of Fiji as well, twice, once in 1643 by Abel Tasman and then another time in 1774 by Captain James Cook. But, Captain William Bligh actually received the credit for discovering this country in 1789 when he sailed over on the Bounty.
The first people to live in Fiji were people who were convicts and shipwrecked sailors that came from Australia, after that by the mid 1900’s came traders and missionaries. In the mid 1800’s after cannibalism ended and Christianity was practiced, warfare came to an end. From the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s Indians came over as laborers to work on growing sugar plantains since Fiji had the perfect environment for it. After the slavery system disappeared those laborers stayed in Fiji as farmers and business owners, these men and women make up about 43.6 percent of the population today, which is currently 890,057.
The Fijian culture developed through the Europeans ways, by at first using there writing, which was later combined with the Tongans ways, using the Tongans manufacturers in cloths and clubs. By combining the way Europeans called their home Viti and the Tongans calling their home Fisi, came the name Fiji. For about half a century in the mid 1800’s the Fijians had what was known as a “golden age”, where tools and weapons were brought over to the land by traders and given to the chiefs. Houses started to be built, Christianity was being spread throughout the land new ways of life were being adopted as well as western clothing. Canoes were being built and used to fish and trade.
Sadly, this “golden age” did not last very long, after a few years Great Britain ceded Fiji and wiped out almost the entire population. Luckily the government took the Fijians side, the sale of land was forbid, health campaigns were put into effect and the population begin to rise. Fiji is actually compacted of all different major religions, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and many others. As for language Fijian and Hindi are taught in schools and spoken throughout the country.
Currently in the 20th century many new changes were brought by the maturation of the political system. With the development of Fijis sugar industry climbing they have developed a climb in tourism and copra milling. There has also been an advance in their education, medical services, public works, and health. They now communicate through sea and air transportation, having a major role in regional affairs in today’s society.
The first people to live in Fiji were people who were convicts and shipwrecked sailors that came from Australia, after that by the mid 1900’s came traders and missionaries. In the mid 1800’s after cannibalism ended and Christianity was practiced, warfare came to an end. From the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s Indians came over as laborers to work on growing sugar plantains since Fiji had the perfect environment for it. After the slavery system disappeared those laborers stayed in Fiji as farmers and business owners, these men and women make up about 43.6 percent of the population today, which is currently 890,057.
The Fijian culture developed through the Europeans ways, by at first using there writing, which was later combined with the Tongans ways, using the Tongans manufacturers in cloths and clubs. By combining the way Europeans called their home Viti and the Tongans calling their home Fisi, came the name Fiji. For about half a century in the mid 1800’s the Fijians had what was known as a “golden age”, where tools and weapons were brought over to the land by traders and given to the chiefs. Houses started to be built, Christianity was being spread throughout the land new ways of life were being adopted as well as western clothing. Canoes were being built and used to fish and trade.
Sadly, this “golden age” did not last very long, after a few years Great Britain ceded Fiji and wiped out almost the entire population. Luckily the government took the Fijians side, the sale of land was forbid, health campaigns were put into effect and the population begin to rise. Fiji is actually compacted of all different major religions, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and many others. As for language Fijian and Hindi are taught in schools and spoken throughout the country.
Currently in the 20th century many new changes were brought by the maturation of the political system. With the development of Fijis sugar industry climbing they have developed a climb in tourism and copra milling. There has also been an advance in their education, medical services, public works, and health. They now communicate through sea and air transportation, having a major role in regional affairs in today’s society.
Internet Sources:
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For the first source you can find information on the culture and present day society of Fiji. This is a reliable source actually found on the Fiji website for booking vacations and tours.
The second source has information from pre-historic time all the way till present day. There is information about the government, the Europeans settling in Fiji and even the arrivals of the Indians. This is "the most trusted source on Fiji" as it says in the title. |
This graph is showing that in 1995 the population was at 775,000 people the majority, about 12 percent, being newborn to age 4 and about 2 percent of them being 70 and older. There are however slightly more males then females.
This graph is a prediction for the year 2100, it shows that the majority of the people will now be between the ages 50 and 80. It also show that the population rate will drop about 80,000 people.
Country Demographic Data
Category
Category
- Statistic
- 915,303 (July 2016 est.)
- 28.6 years
- iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese)
- English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
- 0.63% (2016 est.)
- 19 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
The first image shows Fiji at the beginning of the 1800s, the population remained pretty steady at the beginning, but at the end the population begins to decrease drastically. At the beginning of the 1900's the population rate is extremely low but through the mid 1900s it begins to steady out but then drop again. By the end of the 1900s and beginning of 2,000 the population rate increase by almost 5000. As for present day Fiji's population has increased by about 1,500 since 2000 and about 7000 since the early 1800's.