Environment : Fiji, the national state of the environment report (SOE)

Abstract

Fiji's 1986 population of 737,200 at a density of 39.1 persons per square kilometre can be considered modest, but this figureconcealsaccentuated densities in excessof 170 per square kilometre of arableland. Over 60% of the population resides in rural areas, but urban drift is significant and increasing. Recent socio-political events have led to considerable emigration particularly of the Indian component of the population. This makes any future population projections uncertain, nonethelss overall growth is expected to be modest But, there will certainly be a large increase in the potential labour force over the next 20 years.