Information released by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, listing “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” has renewed debate over welfare participation among immigrant households in the United States — including figures relating to Fijian-born immigrants.
The graphic outlines the estimated percentage of immigrant households from about 120 countries that receive some form of U.S. public assistance, including food aid, healthcare support, income supplements and other government programmes.
According to the chart, 40.8 per cent of households headed by immigrants from Fiji were recorded as receiving assistance.
That figure places Fiji in the mid-range globally, well below countries at the top of the list such as Bhutan (81.4 per cent), but above those near the lower end, including Bermuda (25.5 per cent).
Within the Pacific region, Fiji’s figure appears lower than several neighbouring island nations listed in the chart.
The Marshall Islands recorded one of the highest rates at 71.4 per cent, followed by Samoa (1940–1950 cohort) at 63.4 per cent, Micronesia at 58.1 per cent, and Tonga at 54.4 per cent. American Samoa was listed slightly higher than Fiji, at 42.9 per cent.
The comparison positions Fiji as one of the lower-ranking Pacific Island countries in terms of welfare participation, despite still being above many countries from Europe, East Asia and South America shown in the chart.
