Findings from the Fiji STEPS Survey 2025 show that kava (yaqona) consumption remains widespread in Fiji, with more than half of the population reporting recent use and clear differences across gender, age, location and division.
The survey found that 56.0 per cent of people consumed kava in the past 30 days.
Participation was significantly higher among men, with 71.3 per cent reporting kava use, compared with 39.5 per cent of women.
Across all age groups, men consistently drank kava more than women, ranging from 65 to 75 per cent among men and 20 to 45 per cent among women.
Regionally, kava consumption was highest in the Eastern Division, where 80.1 per cent of respondents reported drinking kava in the past month.
This was followed by the Northern Division (65.0 per cent), the Central Division (56.0 per cent) and the Western Division (49.9 per cent).
The practice was also more common in rural communities (62.1 per cent) than in urban areas (51.5 per cent).
While kava is traditionally consumed in Fiji and is known for its calming and muscle-relaxing effects, the survey highlights concerns about unhealthy behaviours associated with kava sessions.
Among those who drank kava, 51.2 per cent reported smoking or using smokeless tobacco during or shortly after sessions, while 58.0 per cent said they consumed salty or sweet snacks.
These behaviours were particularly common among young adults aged 18 to 29, with 60.4 per cent using tobacco and 69.6 per cent eating snacks during kava sessions, compared with around 33 per cent in the 60–69 age group.
Men were more likely to use tobacco while drinking kava, while women were more likely to snack.
