The population of Fiji consists of two major ethnic groups, Fijians and Indians. It also comprises other group, such as Europeans, Chinese and other Pacific Islanders. The 2007 census showed that there were 56.8 percent Fijians and 37.5 percent Indians, with the remaining 5.7 percent consisting of other groups.
Fiji has recently witnessed a spectacular decline in fertility but with a marked variation between Fijians and Indians. The total fertility rate among Indians dropped to 2.8 in 1986 and 2.5 in 1996. It continued to decline further, approaching below the replacement fertility of 1.9 in 2007. By contrast, Fijian fertility reached 3.9 in 1996. As with Indians, Fijian fertility also fell sharply to 3.2 in 2007.
The main objective of this paper is to examine ethnic variation in fertility using current fertility estimated directly from the census data. As the Fiji census continued to gather information on the relationship of mothers with their own children, this information has been used to estimate fertility trends over the past 15 years preceding the census by the application of the own-children method. It will also undertake decomposition analysis technique to determine the components of changes in the total fertility rates due to marital structure and marital fertility, covering the intercensal periods, 1966-1976, 1976-1986, 1986-1996 and 1996-2007.
Associate Professor (Adjunct) Bhakta Gubhaju
Australian Demographic & Social Research Institute