Fiji

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Fiji
Population: 898,400
General Remarks: 325 islands, 100 inhabited
Principal Languages: English
Literacy Rate: 99% (2017 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), (), UNCRPD (2006)
General References: Geraghty 1983, Schütz 1972, Wurm and Hattori 1981
Deaf Population: 46,300
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Fiji is 15. All are living languages. Of these, 8 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 1 is developing, 5 are vigorous, 1 is in trouble, and 5 are dying. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Chinese zho: Users: 5,800 in Fiji (2017). Status: Unestablished.
English eng: Users: 190,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 30,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 160,000 (2021). Status: 1 (National). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Fiji Hindi hif: Widespread. Users: 300,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 148,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 152,000 (2022). Total users in all countries: 329,510 (as L1: 177,510; as L2: 152,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Brought by British as indentured laborers from northeastern India from 1879 until the 1920s. Alternate Names: Fiji Hindustani, “Fijian Hindi” (pej.), “Fijian Hindustani” (pej.) Autonym: Fiji Baat Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, East Central
Fijian fij: Widespread. Users: 314,000 in Fiji (2019). Total users in all countries: 335,400. Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Boumaa Fijian, Eastern Fijian, Fiji, Standard Fijian, Vakaviti, iTaukei Autonym: Na Vosa Vakaviti Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Fijian, Western wyy: Ba province, including Waya and Yasawa islands; Nadroga-Navosa province; west Serua province. Users: 85,100 (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Fiji, Koronubu-Ba, Nadrogaa Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, West Fijian
Gone Dau goo: Bua province: Dau and Gone islands off western Vanua Levu. Users: 800 (2017). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Fidji-Inseln, Gonedau Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Gujarati guj: Users: Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 24,600 (2019). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
Kiribati gil: Scattered. Users: 6,600 in Fiji (2019). 3,000 or more Banaban. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Gilbertese, Ikiribati Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ikiribati
Lauan llx: Lau province: Lau island group of Lakeba, Lau, and Nayau; Yagasa Cluster of Kabara, Komo, Moce, Namuka, Ogea, Oneata, and Vulaga; Vatoa island, outlier southeast. Users: 21,500 (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Lau Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Lomaiviti lmv: Lomaiviti province. Users: 1,730 (2017). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Namosi-Naitasiri-Serua bwb: Nadroga-Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, and Serua provinces: west and southwest of Viti Levu island. Users: 1,730 (Leclerc 2011). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Namosi-Naitaasiri-Seerua Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, West Fijian
Punjabi, Eastern pan: Users: Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 9,000 (2019). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Rotuman rtm: Rotuma Dependency: Rotuma island, about 450 km northwest of Vanua Levu. Users: 7,500 (Schmidt, H. 2002). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Rotuna, Rutuman Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, Rotuman
Samoan smo: Users: 1,220 in Fiji (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Samoan
Tamil tam: Users: Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 77,000 (2019). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Telugu tel: Users: Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 33,000 (2019). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Tongan ton: Users: 1,330 in Fiji (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Tongic
Urdu urd: Users: Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 4,500 (2019). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national working language. 190,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 30,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 160,000 (2021).

3 (Wider communication)

Fiji Hindi

[hif] 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Brought by British as indentured laborers from northeastern India from 1879 until the 1920s. 300,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 148,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 152,000 (2022). Total users in all countries: 329,510 (as L1: 177,510; as L2: 152,000).

4 (Educational)

Fijian

[fij] 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity. 314,000 in Fiji (2019). Total users in all countries: 335,400.

5 (Dispersed)

Kiribati

[gil] 5* (Dispersed). 6,600 in Fiji (2019). 3,000 or more Banaban.

6a (Vigorous)

Fijian, Western

[wyy] 6a* (Vigorous). 85,100 (2019).

Gone Dau

[goo] 6a* (Vigorous). 800 (2017).

Lauan

[llx] 6a* (Vigorous). 21,500 (2019).

Lomaiviti

[lmv] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,730 (2017).

Namosi-Naitasiri-Serua

[bwb] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,730 (Leclerc 2011).

6b (Threatened)

Rotuman

[rtm] 6b* (Threatened). 7,500 (Schmidt, H. 2002).

8a (Moribund)

Gujarati

[guj] 8a (Moribund). Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 24,600 (2019).

Punjabi, Eastern

[pan] 8a (Moribund). Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 9,000 (2019).

Tamil

[tam] 8a (Moribund). Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 77,000 (2019).

Telugu

[tel] 8a (Moribund). Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 33,000 (2019).

Urdu

[urd] 8a (Moribund). Few in Fiji. Ethnic population: 4,500 (2019).

Unestablished

Chinese

[zho] Unestablished. 5,800 in Fiji (2017).

Samoan

[smo] Unestablished. 1,220 in Fiji (2017).

Tongan

[ton] Unestablished. 1,330 in Fiji (2017).

Maps

Fiji

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Fiji with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Fiji is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Fiji with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Fiji is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Fiji in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Fiji ($149.95, 21 page PDF)

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Fiji

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action