Fiji
Free
72
100
| PR Political Rights | 28 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 44 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
69
100
Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Fiji’s status improved from Partly Free to Free following several years of progress in reversing the institutional damage from a 2006 coup, including a peaceful rotation of power after 2022 elections, eased restrictions on civil liberties, and more recent gains in judicial independence and the rule of law.
The repressive climate that followed a 2006 coup has eased considerably, with regular democratic elections held beginning in 2014, and respect for civil liberties gradually improving. The 2022 elections were followed by a peaceful transfer of power, ending 16 years of governments headed by 2006 coup leader Frank Bainimarama.
- In August, responding to a petition from the government, the Supreme Court upheld the 2013 constitution—which had been introduced by unelected officials following the 2006 coup—but revised the rules for its amendment. The original text prohibited amendment of certain provisions, and changes to other components required both a three-quarters parliamentary majority and a three-quarters majority of all registered voters in a referendum. Invoking common law principles, the court instead stipulated that any amendment must garner a two-thirds parliamentary majority and a simple majority of participating referendum voters. An unamendable provision granting immunity for actions associated with past coups was left intact.
- Official corruption and the integrity of anticorruption mechanisms remained concerns during the year. Barbara Malimali, who had been appointed as head of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in 2024, was suspended in May and had her appointment revoked in June; Malimali then challenged these moves by Fiji’s president, who was acting on the advice of the prime minister, and the case was pending at year’s end. Meanwhile, the FICAC continued to pursue investigations of government officials under an acting commissioner. In October, two deputy prime ministers resigned from the cabinet after the commission filed corruption-related charges against them.
- A longtime civilian police commander, Rusiate Tudravu, took office as Fiji’s police commissioner in February; his predecessor, military officer Sitiveni Qiliho, was released early in September after receiving a two-year prison sentence in 2024 for abuse of office related to the halting of a police investigation. In October, 2006 coup leader and former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was found guilty of improperly ordering Tudravu to dismiss two police officers in 2021, after they shared photographs of Bainimarama’s brother and accused him of drug trafficking. Bainimarama received a 12-month suspended prison sentence; Qiliho was acquitted in the same case.
This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2026 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.
For additional background information, see the reports from the 2024 and 2025 editions of Freedom in the World.
This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2026 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.
For additional background information, see the reports from the 2024 and 2025 editions of Freedom in the World.
A1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? | 3.003 4.004 |
A2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 2.002 4.004 |
A3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 3.003 4.004 |
B1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? | 3.003 4.004 |
B2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 3.003 4.004 |
B3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means? | 3.003 4.004 |
B4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? | 3.003 4.004 |
C1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 3.003 4.004 |
C2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 2.002 4.004 |
C3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Does the government operate with openness and transparency? | 3.003 4.004 |
D1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are there free and independent media? | 4.004 4.004 |
D2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 4.004 4.004 |
D3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 3.003 4.004 |
D4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? | 3.003 4.004 |
E1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there freedom of assembly? | 3.003 4.004 |
E2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 3.003 4.004 |
E3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 3.003 4.004 |
F1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there an independent judiciary? | 4.004 4.004 |
Score Change: The score improved from 3 to 4 because recent Supreme Court decisions, including one related to the requirements for amending the constitution, have demonstrated the body’s independence.
F2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? | 2.002 4.004 |
Score Change: The score improved from 1 to 2 because military officers responsible for law enforcement have been replaced by civilians in recent years, and former officials—including the former prime minister—have faced trial for past violations of the rule of law.
F3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? | 2.002 4.004 |
F4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? | 2.002 4.004 |
G1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? | 4.004 4.004 |
Score Change: The score improved from 3 to 4 because the government has not imposed significant practical constraints on internal or foreign travel in recent years, though some potentially restrictive laws remain in place.
G2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? | 3.003 4.004 |
G3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? | 2.002 4.004 |
G4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 2.002 4.004 |
Country Facts
-
Population
929,766 -
Global Freedom Score
72 100 free
