Central Division: population, jobs, poverty, health and schooling
Central Division is a division of Fiji, the largest of 4 by population. The 2017 census counted 378,284 people in the Central Division (190,024 males and 188,260 females), 42.7% of Fiji's 884,887; the largest of 4 divisions by population.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Central Division: 56.5% of people aged 15 and over in the Central Division were in the labour force (in work or looking for it) at the 2017 census, 2nd lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 57.1%). For men it was 73.2% and for women 40.0%.
- Health in Central Division: 96.8% of women in the Central Division with a recent birth saw skilled health personnel at least once during pregnancy in the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 97.7%).
- Education in Central Division: 96.4% of women aged 15-49 in the Central Division were literate in the 2021 survey, the highest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 95.5%).
- Poverty and living standards in Central Division: 24.3% of people in the Central Division lived below the basic needs poverty line in the 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey as published by the Bureau, about 87,766 people; the lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 29.9%).
What is the estimated population of the Central Division?
The 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey estimated the population of the Central Division at 361,459, 41.8% of Fiji's estimated 864,132; this is a weighted survey estimate, so it differs from the census count.
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow old is the population of the Central Division?
The median age in the Central Division was 27 at the 2017 census (Fiji: 28); 28.9% of people were under 15 and 5.2% were 65 or older (Fiji: 29.4% and 5.6%).
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the sex ratio in the Central Division?
There were 101 males for every 100 females in the Central Division in 2017 (Fiji: 103).
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many adults live in the Central Division?
268,772 people in the Central Division were aged 15 or over at the 2017 census, the working-age population counted in the labour force tables.
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow big are households in the Central Division?
The 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey found an average of 4.5 people per household in the Central Division (Fiji: 4.3).
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow divisions are governed in Fiji
Divisions (4). Commissioners and district officers, civil servants. Central government administration and development coordination.
Every tier of government in Fiji
Other divisions of Fiji
- Western Division 330,434
- Northern Division 135,965
- Eastern Division 36,274
Up a level: Fiji · government and power in Fiji
Sources
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics (with UNICEF): Fiji Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2021, Survey Findings Report, Table TM.2.1: adolescent birth rate and total fertility rate, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd07375a3851…)
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics: 2017 Population and Housing Census, Release 1: Table 9, population aged 15 and above with a bank account by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dfbd8db60f8e…)
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics: Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019-20 report, Table 18: annual household expenditure summary, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b1d56391e7a7…)
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics: 2017 Population and Housing Census, Administrative Report: Table 1.4, population by division, age group and sex, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cd06c2298f37…)
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