Page Type: countryFiji | Ethnologue

FJ

Republic of Fiji

Fiji

Summary

Republic of Fiji
CSICH (2010), ICCPR (2018), ILOCITP (1998), UNCRPD (2017)
890,000
English
99% (2017 UNESCO)
Geraghty 1983, Schütz 1972, Wurm and Hattori 1981
The number of established languages listed for Fiji is 15. All are living languages. Of these, 8 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 6 are developing, 5 are vigorous, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.
Users: 5,800 in Fiji (2017). Status: Unestablished.
Users: 200,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 30,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 170,000 (Crystal 2003a). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2000, Constitution, Article 4(1)), dominant language in commerce, education, government. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Kabara, Kadavu, Komo, Lakeba, Moce, Namuka, Nayau, Ogea, Oneata, Vatoa, and Vulaga islands; Vanua Levu and offshore islands, east half of Viti Levu and eastern offshore islands. Users: 634,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 314,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 320,000 (1991 UBS). Total users in all countries: 654,710 (as L1: 334,710; as L2: 320,000). Status: 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (2000, Constitution, Article 4(1)). Alternate Names: Boumaa Fijian, Eastern Fijian, Fiji, Standard Fijian, Vakaviti Autonym: Na Vosa Vakaviti Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Ba province, including Waya and Yasawa islands; Nadroga-Navosa province; west Serua province. Users: 85,100 (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Fiji, Koronubu-Ba, Nadrogaa Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, West Fijian
Bua province: Dau and Gone islands off western Vanua Levu. Users: 800 (2017). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Fidji-Inseln, Gonedau Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Users: 24,600 in Fiji (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
Widespread. Users: 194,000 in Fiji (2019). Total users in all countries: 198,380. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Statutory language of national identity (2000, Constitution, Article 4(1)). Alternate Names: Fiji Hindustani, “Fijian Hindi” (pej.), “Fijian Hindustani” (pej.) Autonym: Fiji Baat Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, East Central
Scattered. Users: 6,600 in Fiji (2019). 3,000 or more Banaban. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Gilbertese, Ikiribati Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ikiribati
Lau province: Lau island group of Lakeba, Lau, and Nayau; Yagasa Cluster of Kabara, Komo, Moce, Namuka, Ogea, Oneata, and Vulaga; Vatoa island, outlier southeast. Users: 21,500 (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Lau Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Lomaiviti province. Users: 1,730 (2017). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, East Fijian
Naitasiri, Nadroga and Navosa, Namosi, and Serua provinces: west and southwest of Viti Levu island. Users: 1,730 (Leclerc 2011). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Namosi-Naitaasiri-Seerua Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, West Fijian
Users: 9,000 in Fiji (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Rotuma Dependency: Rotuma island, about 450 km northwest of Vanua Levu. Users: 7,500 (Schmidt, H. 2002). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Rotuna, Rutuman Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, West Fijian-Rotuman, Rotuman
Users: 1,220 in Fiji (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Samoan
Users: 77,000 in Fiji (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Users: 33,000 in Fiji (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Users: 1,330 in Fiji (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Tongic
Users: 4,500 in Fiji (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
    [eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2000, Constitution, Article 4(1)), dominant language in commerce, education, government. 200,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 30,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 170,000 (Crystal 2003a).
    [fij] 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (2000, Constitution, Article 4(1)). 634,000 in Fiji, all users. L1 users: 314,000 in Fiji (2019). L2 users: 320,000 (1991 UBS). Total users in all countries: 654,710 (as L1: 334,710; as L2: 320,000).
    [gil] 5* (Dispersed). 6,600 in Fiji (2019). 3,000 or more Banaban.
    [guj] 5* (Dispersed). 24,600 in Fiji (2019).
    [pan] 5* (Dispersed). 9,000 in Fiji (2019).
    [tam] 5* (Dispersed). 77,000 in Fiji (2019).
    [tel] 5* (Dispersed). 33,000 in Fiji (2019).
    [urd] 5* (Dispersed). 4,500 in Fiji (2019).
    [bwb] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,730 (Leclerc 2011).
    [goo] 6a* (Vigorous). 800 (2017).
    [llx] 6a* (Vigorous). 21,500 (2019).
    [lmv] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,730 (2017).
    [wyy] 6a* (Vigorous). 85,100 (2019).
    [rtm] 6b* (Threatened). 7,500 (Schmidt, H. 2002).

Fiji

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile