Mobile phone ownership in Fiji has reached a record 84 per cent, with smartphones now dominating the market and playing an increasingly important role in expanding access to formal financial services, according to the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s 2025 Fiji Financial Services Demand Side Survey.
The survey shows mobile phone ownership has steadily increased over the past decade, rising from 76 per cent in 2014 to 81 per cent in 2020, before reaching 84 per cent in 2025.
Among those who own a mobile phone, 92 per cent now have a smartphone, while only 8 per cent use a basic phone.
The report found a strong connection between mobile phone ownership and financial inclusion.
Fijians who do not personally own a mobile phone are significantly more likely to be excluded from formal financial services, with an exclusion rate of 39 per cent, compared with 12 per cent across the overall population.
Ownership is highest among people aged 36 to 55 years, where 89 per cent own a mobile phone. Ownership falls to 72 per cent among those aged 66 years and older.
The survey also found urban residents are significantly more likely to own a mobile phone than those living in rural areas, while people living in the Northern Division are less likely to own one.
Despite high ownership levels, many Fijians continue to rely on shared devices.
Among people who do not own a mobile phone, 68 per cent said they regularly use someone else’s phone.
The most common reasons for borrowing a phone are communication (76 per cent) and internet access (51 per cent).
However, only 14 per cent of people using a shared phone have ever used it to make payments, suggesting shared devices are not widely used for digital financial transactions.
The survey also highlighted a gender gap in mobile phone access.
Women are slightly less likely than men to own a mobile phone and are significantly more likely to rely on someone else’s device.
The widespread adoption of smartphones is expected to support further growth in digital financial services, including mobile banking and mobile money, as Fiji continues its push toward greater financial inclusion.
The findings reinforce the growing importance of digital connectivity in expanding access to banking, payments and other financial services, while also highlighting the need to improve access to mobile technology among older people, rural communities and those without personal devices.
