Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Fiji instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 4.8 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Fiji, that number is 74 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 41.8% more likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 21.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Fiji, that number is 30.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.2 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Fiji, the GDP per capita is $13,600 as of 2023.

be 19.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Fiji, however, that number is 29.9% as of 2019.

pay a 52.4% lower top tax rate

Papua New Guinea has a top tax rate of 42.0% as of 2016. In Fiji, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

be 63.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Fiji, that number is 4.3% as of 2023.

Life

be 80.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Fiji, 38.0 women do as of 2020.

be 54.4% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Fiji, it is 99.1% as of 2018.

be 70.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Fiji, on the other hand, 10.1 children do as of 2022.

have 43.4% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Fiji, there are 15.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 4.8 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Fiji, that number is 92% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 87% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 2.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Fiji, about 88.0% do as of 2021.

be 98.5% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Fiji, that number is 94% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 89% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 4.1 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Fiji spends 5.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 52.0% more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Fiji, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 78.1% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Fiji, that number is 1,129 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea, Fiji Revenue & Customs Authority.

Fiji: At a glance

Fiji is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 18,274 sq km. Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and initially refused to hold elections. In 2012, he promised to hold elections in 2014.
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How big is Fiji compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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