The rising cost of living has emerged as Fiji’s most pressing national issue, according to the Dialogue Fiji National Budget 2026–2027 Public Priorities Survey.
Nearly half of all respondents — 49.2 per cent — identified the cost of living as the single biggest problem facing the country, far outpacing all other concerns.
Dialogue Fiji said the findings reflect a “near-consensus” among Fijians that declining household purchasing power is the country’s primary economic challenge.
“The cost of living dominates the national consciousness by a substantial margin,” the report noted.
Crime and drugs ranked as the second most significant concern at 18 per cent, highlighting growing anxiety around law and order. The survey found that many respondents linked crime to economic hardship.
“Qualitative responses frequently reference drug-related unemployment and economic marginalisation as drivers of crime,” the report stated.
Unemployment and lack of jobs placed third at 9.6 per cent, reinforcing what the survey describes as a “triad of economic and social stressors” affecting households.
Other issues such as governance and corruption (3.9 per cent) and poverty and inequality (3.8 per cent) were also identified, though at significantly lower levels.
Health services ranked sixth at 3.3 per cent, suggesting that while service delivery remains a concern, it is not viewed as the most urgent national issue compared to economic pressures.
Dialogue Fiji said the findings should serve as a clear signal to policymakers ahead of the 2026–2027 National Budget.
“The results are unambiguous,” the report stated, urging that policy responses prioritise easing cost-of-living pressures while addressing interconnected issues such as employment and crime.
The survey, which captured responses from 1,266 participants, provides a snapshot of public sentiment at a time of mounting economic strain for many Fijian households.
