FIJI’S population is still growing, but annual growth has slowed dramatically to approximately 0.52 per cent, according to a demographic analysis by University of the South Pacific lecturer Dr Sumeet Lal.
Dr Lal said Fiji had moved from a period of rapid population growth to a much slower rate of expansion.
“In the late 20th century, annual population growth exceeded two per cent,” he said.
“By the early 2000s, growth had declined to around one per cent, and by 2023 it stood at approximately 0.52 per cent.”
Dr Lal said the slowdown was part of a broader demographic transition driven by declining fertility and birth rates.
“Fiji’s demographic profile has undergone a significant transformation over the past four decades.
“By the early 2000s, the country had begun to experience a demographic transition marked by declining fertility and slower population growth.”
Fertility declined from approximately four children per woman in the late twentieth century to around three in the early 2000s and 2.27 in 2024.
The crude birth rate fell from approximately 34 births per 1000 population to 18 per 1000 in 2024.
The country’s median age has also risen sharply, from 18.3 years in 1980 to 27.7 years in 2023.
Dr Lal said the changing age structure was another clear sign of the transition.
“The relatively lower proportion of people under 18 years reflects these long-term demographic changes.”
He said the proportion of people under 18 fell from approximately 47 per cent in 1980 to 32.7 per cent in 2023.
