What Languages Are Spoken In Fiji? (Revealed!)

Fiji has three official languages: English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi. Fijian is spoken by the majority of indigenous Fijians, who represent around 54% of the population. Rotuman is another indigenous language spoken in Fiji. You will also hear other foreign and immigrant langauges, such as Chinese, French, Hindi and Russian.

Fiji is a small nation with a relatively small population of just under a million to match.

Within that, there are a few different languages spoken, but the indigenous language is the most common and represents the majority of the population.

It’s a fascinating nation with fascinating linguistic demographics, so let’s find out more.

In This Article

How many languages are spoken in Fiji?

There are a number of languages spoken in Fiji, but there are three official languages: these are English, Fijian, and Fiji Hindi.

These languages represent the bulk of speakers in the country.

Of these, Fijian is by some way the most common and is usually the first language of indigenous Fijians.

Many of them, though, also speak English as a second language.

English plays an important role in Fiji.

Usage of English in Fiji predates the nation’s cessation to Britain and found popularity as a lingua franca during the time of the first European explorers and traders.

The English spoken in Fiji today has thus undergone a great deal of change and development, as it was originally mixed with Fijian to form a Pidgin Fijian.

Indeed, modern Fijian English is proposed by many to be a distinct dialect of its own.

Fiji Hindi is another of the most common languages in Fiji.

There are many Fijian citizens of eastern descent in Fiji, and they tend to speak Fiji Hindi.

It is mostly derived from the Awadhi and Bhojpuri forms of Hindi, though it has by this time borrowed many words from Fijian and English.

Beyond these languages, there are other indigenous languages, primarily Rotuman.

Rotuman is an Austronesian language spoken in the South Pacific island group of Rotuma.

They were, for a long time, under the domain of Fiji, gaining full independence in 1987.

Around 10,000 people on Fiji speak Rotuman today.

Arabic and Fiji Urdu are also spoken widely on Fiji by the island’s Muslim community.

The Muslims of Fiji represent around 50,000 people, or about 6% of the population.

It is mostly made up of Arab, Indian, Iranian, Baloch, Pakistani and Afghan peoples.

Finally, many foreign and immigrant languages are used on Fiji, including Chinese, Hindi, French and Russian.

What are the top languages, then in Fiji?

What are the top three languages in Fiji?

The top three languages on Fiji are English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi.

As mentioned, these are the three official languages recognized by the Fijian government.

The Fijian language is the single most widely spoken.

Indigenous Fijians, the vast majority of whom speak Fiji as their first language, represent around 54% of the population—or around half a million people.

There is currently discussions about establishing it as the single national language, though not to the exclusion of English and Fiji Hindi.

The language is in no danger of falling out of use, then.

English is the next most common language in Fiji.

As mentioned, the usage of English in Fiji has a long history, so it’s culturally very important today.

It is often used as the language for official proceedings and sometimes it is the language used in schools, both primary and secondary.

There are many forms of it, as mentioned—standard English is often used in formal settings, whereas dialectal Fijian English is more commonly used in day-to-day life.

Fiji Hindi, finally, is the third most common language in Fiji.

There are thriving Indian populations living in Fiji, and so not only has their language become one of the most common in the country, but it has developed into its own Fijian form.

Is Fijian difficult to learn?

Fijian is not considered a difficult language to learn, relatively speaking.

It’s fairly straightforward for English speakers to learn, as there are a lot of similarities between the two languages.

However, learning a language is never easy even if it is a direct linguistic neighbor to your native tongue.

It will take time and patience to learn.

While Fijian is not the most difficult language to learn, it is also not very closely related to English, which does make it harder.

You won’t master it overnight!

A great way to learn a new language is to buy a course.

Rocket Languages has 14 different languages you can learn, including French, Chinese, Hindi and Russian, just some of the languages spoken in Fiji, so be sure to check them out if you’re serious about learning a new language.

How many people live in Fiji?

There are close to a million people living in Fiji, with the latest census data putting the population at 924,610 individuals.

This figure is split primarily between indigenous Fijians and Fijian Indians.

There are around half a million of the former, and 300-350,000 Indians.

Naturally, this demographic makeup means that the languages spoken, overall, are going to be fairly monolithic.

The vast majority of the country is represented in two ethnic groups.

There are around 50,000-100,000 people representing other demographic groups in Fiji.

Most tend to learn Fijian as the language to converse across cultures, though English is also widely used as the common language.

Small, isolated island nations like this are well known for hanging on dearly to their indigenous roots.

Fiji is a fascinating country that has been inhabited by humans since at least the second millennium BC.

Today, it is home to a variety of international and indigenous languages, but Fijian remains by far the most commonly spoken language in the nation, but you’ll also hear many people speaking other languages, foreign and indigenous.

More in Regional Languages

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

Was this article helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!