Fiji Language

Fiji overview is indispensable to know this country better. Fiji is an island nation on the shores of the South Pacific Ocean. A unified island country consisting of almost 322 separate islands of varying sizes, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the two most popular ones in Fiji. The islands of Fiji are inhabited by a wide variety of people. The bulk of the population in Fiji is mainly made up of native Fijians, a mix of Polynesian and Melanesian ancestry. The Indo Fijians make the 38.1 percent of the total population in Fiji. Other minority groups are present too. The Rotuman, natives of Rotuma Island, compose about 1.2 percent of the population. With such a diverse population, it is quite expected that Fiji language would be a mix of all these influences. Rightly so as languages like Fijian, Hindi, Urdu and English are spoken all over this beautiful tropical island nation. Fiji Travel Guide makes sure that you come to this island nation with all the necessary information.

The Constitution of 1997 established Fijian as the official language of this small island state. At present the most widely spoken language in Fiji is Fijian. According to the government estimate, Fijian is spoken by almost 350,000 people. A member of the Austronesian language of the Malayo Polynesian family, Fijian is the first language of the Vanua Levu Island. Fiji language is also widely spoken to the eastern half of Viti Levu as well as on smaller islands like Kadavu, Nayau, Lakeba, Oneata, Moce, Komo and in some other parts as well.

The other two languages widely spoken in Fiji are Hindusthani and English. Hindusthani language is further sub divided into Hindi and Urdu. Sharing many similarities, these two languages are spoken by a lot more people, thanks to the thousands of Indian migrants who came to Fiji as laborers in the 19th century. A truly global language, English speakers are not less in number either. It is now widely debated that Fijian should be made as the "national language". The other two languages such as Hindusthani and English would however retain their status of Official languages.