Fiji

Main article: Countries of the world

Population

Indigenous peoples are part of the Melanesian cultural group

Indigenous peoples inhabiting the islands of Melanesia are called Melanesians. It is a heterogeneous collection of different genetic groups and ethnic communities, different cultural practices (mythology, music, art, etc.) and various unrelated language families. Together, however, they form a vast area with a long history of interaction. The region covers populations that have a certain linguistic, biological and cultural proximity.

This region includes four independent countries:

• Fiji,
• Vanuatu,
• Solomon Islands,
• Papua New Guinea.

It also includes the Indonesian part of New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, and the Torres Strait Islands.

At the same time, there is no consensus among anthropologists about the geographical boundaries of Melanesia. Many apply the term only to smaller islands, excluding New Guinea; Fiji was often seen as an anomalous border region, or even referred entirely to Polynesia; and Torres Strait Islanders were often simply classed as Aboriginal Australians.

The name Melanesia (in French Mélanésie) was first used in 1832 by the French navigator Jules Dumont-Durville: he coined the terms Melanesia and Micronesia along with pre-existing Polynesia to designate the three main ethnic and geographical regions forming the Pacific Ocean.

The name Melanesia (from ancient Greek: melas, letters. "Black" and ancient Greek: nesos, letters. "Island") etymologically means "islands of black [people]" in connection with the dark skin of the inhabitants.

Economy

Agriculture

2019: Average use of pesticides in agriculture

As of 2019

Consumption

2023: Poultry meat is the most consumed type of meat

The most consumed type of meat (including fish and seafood) according to data available for June 2023.

Automobile traffic

Fiji is a left-handed country.

Data for 2017

Health care

2020: Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave less than a month

Data as of September 1, 2020

History

1905

80-year-old cannibal Tom is the last cannibal of the island of Fiji, 1905.