Deaths in Fiji follow a largely predictable age and sex pattern, with higher mortality among young children, a decline in early years, and a steady rise as people age, according to a new report by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics and the Pacific Community.
The report, Making Death Count – Fiji: Assessment of the Quality of Cause of Death Data (2018–2023), found that deaths increased progressively from around five years of age onwards, consistent with global demographic trends.
It noted relatively higher mortality among children aged 0–4 years, followed by a decline before increasing again with age.
Among adolescents and young adults, males aged 15–24 accounted for a higher proportion of deaths than females in the same age group. This trend was linked to increased risk-taking behaviour among young males.
In older age groups, females accounted for a higher share of deaths from age 75 onwards. The report said this reflects women’s longer life expectancy and lower mortality rates at younger ages.
However, when compared with global benchmarks from the World Health Organization, the report found some differences.
For people aged 0–74, fewer deaths were expected than what was reported in Fiji, while for those aged 75 and above, more deaths were expected than currently recorded.
The report suggested these variations may reflect the limitations of using income level as a predictor of mortality, particularly for countries like Fiji that are still undergoing demographic transition.
It also highlighted differences across ethnic groups, with a higher proportion of deaths among iTaukei across most age groups up to around 65 years for males and 60 years for females. Beyond these ages, more deaths were recorded among Indo-Fijians.
The findings provide insight into mortality patterns in Fiji and are expected to support improvements in health planning and policy development.
