The Indo-Fijian community, once comprising 52% of Fiji’s population in the late 1970s and 1980s, has now dwindled to approximately 33%.
Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, Charan Jeath Singh, spoke to Fijivillage News about this demographic shift, attributing it to a combination of political instability and changing family dynamics.
Singh explained that, in the past, Indo-Fijian families commonly had 10 to 12 children, with many children working alongside their parents on farms, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. However, following the 1987 coup, many Indo-Fijians left the country due to feelings of insecurity. Additionally, with families now averaging two children, a natural decline in the population has followed.
The Minister highlighted that the population drop is also linked to changing family structures and the ongoing political instability in the country. As the Indo-Fijian community has played a key role in shaping Fiji’s social and economic landscape, this decline raises concerns about the future of the nation’s diversity.
This migration trend has raised alarms about the nation’s social cohesion and the future of its diverse population. In March 2025, Dialogue Fiji Executive Director, Nilesh Lal, spoke at the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, noting that the departure of skilled individuals signals a loss for Fiji. He expressed concerns about the country’s ability to truly be inclusive for all its citizens, highlighting the country’s progress and setbacks since ratifying the convention in 1973.
Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Alefina Vuki had also acknowledged the need for greater efforts in combating exclusion, stereotyping, and institutional bias in the country. She stressed that addressing racial discrimination requires more than just legal frameworks but also education, awareness, and strong leadership.
In a significant step towards healing past racial divisions, political and religious leaders in Fiji signed the ‘Forward Fiji Declaration’ in 2023, aiming to foster unity between the country’s two largest ethnic groups—Indo-Fijians and the indigenous iTaukei. This gesture followed a series of apologies for the harm caused by the coups of 1987 and 2000, and leaders are now calling for a unified future based on inclusivity and respect for diversity.
Lat year, officially opening the 145th Girmit Day celebrations, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Prof. Biman Prasad, said the Coalition Government has honoured the enduring legacy of the Girmitiya and their descendants by declaring Girmit Day a public holiday.
On the issue of population, Prof. Biman Prasad noted growing concerns over emigration trends, clarifying that data from 2016 to 2022 shows an increase in emigration during former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s tenure. He urged caution in public discussions, emphasising the need for accurate data and acknowledging that labour demand in countries like Australia and New Zealand also drives migration.
As Fiji prepares to celebrate the 146th Girmit Day, the theme for this year’s festivities, “Preserving the Past, Envisioning the Future,” will focus on the contributions of the Indo-Fijian community. The celebrations will take place from Saturday to Monday at Subrail Park in Labasa, with the public holiday set for Monday, 12th May 2025.
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