k 9, cargo 26, chemical tanker 5,
passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 36, short-sea passenger
10 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Airports: 160 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 73 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047
m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 12 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m:
82 (2001)

Military Finland

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including
Sea Guard)

Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,240,762 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,024,379
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 33,883
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.8 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues Finland

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Fiji

Introduction

Fiji

Background: 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). A 1990 constitution favored
native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration;
the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that
Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the
constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted
in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May of 2000 ushered
in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held
in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government
and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.

Geography Fiji

Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 18,270 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New