Official name: Republic of Fiji Capital: Suva Population: 800,000 Currency: Fiji dollar Official language: English

Fiji is a volcanic archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean comprising two large islands and 880 smaller islets. From 1874 to 1970 Fiji was a British colony. The British introduced Indian workers to the islands and by 1946 their descendants, the Indo-Fijians, outnumbered the native Fijian. In 1987 native Fijians overthrew the democratically-elected government. After the coups, thousands of IndoFijians left the country. CLIMATE

The eastern sides of the main islands are wettest, having more than twice the annual rainfall of the western flanks. Fiji lies in a cyclone path. TRANSPORT

On the axis of Australia-US west coast air routes, Fiji is well served by international flights. TOURISM

Tourists -- mainly from Australia, New Zealand and the US west coast --are returning after a 76 per cent drop in numbers following the 1987 coups. PEOPLE

Population density: 44 people per square kilometre

Urban/rural population split: 40 per cent/60 per cent

The exodus of Indo-Fijians after the 1987 coups left native Fijians in the majority for the first time since 1946. Census figures in 1991 confirmed that they made up more than 51 per cent of the population. There are tensions between urban and rural native Fijians. Women, who head 12 per cent of households, are lobbying for more rights. They cannot obtain loans without a husband's or father's consent, while children born of marriages to non-Fijian men are denied full citizenship. POLITICS

The 1987 coups were justified as defending the land rights of native Fijians. In practice, they were a move by native Fijian chiefs to secure their power, which was being threatened both by the growing Indo-Fijian class, and the increasingly Westernised younger native Fijians. Although the 1990 constitution enshrining native Fijian supremacy is being amended, it is unlikely to change radically. WORLD AFFAIRS

Fiji is still working to repair its international reputation following the coups of 1987, the subsequent discriminatory constitution and its expulsion from the Commonwealth. AID

Fiji is one of the world's highest per capita aid recipients. Australia, Japan and the EU are the main donors. DEFENCE

Of the 3,900-strong, almost entirely native Fijian military, 1,200 are assigned to UN duties and have served in Lebanon and Egypt. ECONOMICS

GNP: $1.8 billion World GNP ranking: 137th GNP per capita: $2,320 Balance of payments: $13 million Strengths: Relatively well-diversified economy, with a growing tourist industry. Weaknesses: Migration of many IndoFijian professionals and entrepreneurs following the coups. Major exports sugar, copra and gold -- subject to large fluctuations in world prices.

RESOURCES

Electricity generation: 477 million kwh Livestock: 334,000 cattle, 205,000 goats, 115,000 pigs Fish catch per year: 31,399 tonnes Mineral resources: Gold and silver The varied terrain allows diversified agriculture. There are minerals and hydroelectric potential.

ENVIRONMENT

Tourism is damaging the coral reefs. MEDIA

Newspapers and video tapes are the major source of information on the islands. CRIME

Theft and drink-related violence top the crime list. Fiji also has one of the world's highest crime passionel rates EDUCATION

Education, originally modelled on the British system, is now mostly run by local committees and is increasingly racially segregated. Attendance, though high, is not compulsory. HEALTH

People living in rural areas and on the outlying islands are served by 95 nursing stations. Fiji is free of almost all tropical diseases, including malaria. WEALTH

Ostentatious displays of wealth are rare; prestige derives from family and land-holdings. The professional middle class, while still dominated by IndoFijians, is becoming more mixed. WORLD RANKING

Position in World (192 countries)

Life expectancy 52 Infant mortality 73 GNP per capita 74 Daily calorie intake 54 Literacy 99 Schooling index 22 Educational rank 61