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Fiji Facts & Worksheets

Fiji is located in Oceania, south of the Pacific Ocean. It is a Melanesian island country that is officially known as the Republic of Fiji.

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Fiji is located in Oceania, south of the Pacific Ocean. It is a Melanesian island country that is officially known as the Republic of Fiji. It is part of the continent of Oceania and can be found about 2,000 kilometers or 1,300 miles northeast of Auckland, New Zealand.

See the fact file below for more information on the Fiji or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Fiji worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL FACTS

  • The country of Fiji consists of an archipelago, which is a group or chain or islands. There are more than 330 islands, 106 of which are inhabited. There are also more than 500 islets, which are very small islands.
  • The capital and largest city in the country of Fiji is Suva, which is located on the southeast coast of an island named Viti Levu in the Rewa Province, Central Division.
  • It is governed by the Suva City Council.
  • The city of Suva has an area of 2,048 square kilometers.
  • It was declared Fiji’s capital in 1877.
  • The official languages in Fiji are English, Fijian, and Fiji Hindi.
  • Fijian is an Austronesian language belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family, and it is spoken by Indigenous Fijians.
  • Fiji Hindi, or Fijian Hindi, is locally known as Hindustani. It is a language belonging to the Indo-Aryan family, and it was spoken by Fijians of Indian descent.
  • Rotuman is a recognized regional language in Fiji. It is also an Austronesian language that is widely spoken in the South Pacific.
  • The citizens of Fiji are called Fijians.
  • The government of Fiji is a Unitary parliamentary representative democratic republic.
  • The republic of Fiji was established on October 7, 1987.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The native inhabitants of Fiji are the Indigenous Fijians, who came from a mix of Polynesian and Melanesian descent. They are the result of the original migrations that occurred to the South Pacific.
  • From 1879 until 1961, approximately 61,000 people from India were brought to Fiji to work on sugarcane fields. This has resulted in an increase of the Indo-Fijian population.
  • In the 1920s and 1930s. more Indians voluntarily migrated to Fiji. This would form the country’s business class.

ETYMOLOGY

  • The name “Fiji” was simply derived from the country’s main island, Viti Levu. While the common English pronunciation (fee-jee) was derived from its neighbour island Tonga.
  • “Feejee” was the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation. This term was used in writings until the late 19th century.

GEOGRAPHY

  • The island country of Fiji covers a total area of 194,000 square kilometers or 75,000 square miles.
  • Only 10% percent of this area is land.
  • Fiji is located midway between the island countries of Vanuatu and Tonga.
  • The archipelago of Fiji covers an estimated area of 498,000 square miles, and less than 2% of the area is made up of land.
  • The archipelago of Fiji consists of a total of 332 islands.
  • 106 of these islands are inhabited.
  • Along with the islands, Fiji also features 522 smaller islets.
  • The two most important islands of Fiji are Viti Levu, its main island, and Vanua Levu. These two islands hold about 75% of Fiji’s land area.
  • Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are mountainous islands, featuring thick, tropical forests.
  • The highest point of Fiji is Mount Tomanivi in Viti Levu, which has a peak of 1,324 meters or 4,341 feet high.

HISTORY

  • Early Settlement
    • Austronesian peoples started settling in Fiji as early as 3500 to 1000 BC.
    • The Melanesians settled in Fiji approximately a thousand years after the Austronesians.
    • It is also believed that the first inhabitants of Fiji were the Lapita people. However, little is known regarding what happened to them after the Melanesians settled.
  • Tu’i Tonga Rule
    • The Tu’i Tonga Empire was established in the 10th century.
    • The empire originated from the neighboring island of Tonga, so Fiji was ruled under their proximity.
    • The Tongan rule introduced Polynesian customs and language into Fiji.
    • The empire declined in the 13th century.
    • After the empire, unique pre-colonial Fijian culture and traditions developed.
  • European Colonization
    • Fijian culture was repressed under the rule of British colonialism, particularly, in the aspect of Fijian spirituality.
    • The concept of cannibalism was used and inflated by early colonizers and missionaries as a way to assert their morality and start colonizing the country.
    • Fijian customs were deemed as “debased and primitive”.
    • Colonizers propagated the false idea that Fiji was a “paradise wasted on savage cannibals”.
    • Archaeological evidence shows that cannibalism was practiced in a ritualistic manner by the ancient Fijians, not as a violent or vengeful means as was described by the Europeans.
    • Fiji declared independence from the United Kingdom on October 10, 1970.

CULTURE

  • The culture of Fiji is a culmination of Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Asian, and European traditions.
  • The most popular sport in Fiji is rugby.

SIGHTS TO SEE

  • Hạfliua — A remote island located in Rotuma.
  • Bouma Falls — A sequence of three waterfalls located north of Taveuni.
  • Hatana Sacred Island — The burial site of the mythical founder of Rotuma, Raho.
  • Kedekede Hillfort — A large hillfort built in the 17th century by Fijian islanders, located on the east side of Lakeba Island.
  • Fiji Museum — The largest collection of displayed and preserved Fijian cultural artifacts, located in Central Suva.

Fiji Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Fiji across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Fiji worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Fiji which is located in Oceania, south of the Pacific Ocean. It is a Melanesian island country that is officially known as the Republic of Fiji. It is part of the continent of Oceania and can be found about 2,000 kilometers or 1,300 miles northeast of Auckland, New Zealand.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Fiji Facts
  • Fiji Fast Facts
  • Map Study
  • Correct Sequence
  • Fiji or False
  • Notable and Natural
  • Image Story
  • Cuisine Collage
  • Fiji Folk Dance
  • Flag of Fiji
  • Fi-Jingle

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Link will appear as Fiji Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 4, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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