Western Division: population, jobs, poverty, health and schooling
Western Division is a division of Fiji, number 2 of 4 by population. The 2017 census counted 337,041 people in the Western Division (171,053 males and 165,988 females), 38.1% of Fiji's 884,887; 2nd largest of 4 divisions by population.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Western Division: 56.3% of people aged 15 and over in the Western Division were in the labour force (in work or looking for it) at the 2017 census, the lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 57.1%). For men it was 77.5% and for women 34.7%.
- Health in Western Division: 98.0% of women in the Western Division with a recent birth saw skilled health personnel at least once during pregnancy in the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2nd lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 97.7%).
- Education in Western Division: 94.7% of women aged 15-49 in the Western Division were literate in the 2021 survey, joint lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 95.5%).
- Poverty and living standards in Western Division: 32.4% of people in the Western Division lived below the basic needs poverty line in the 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey as published by the Bureau, about 106,988 people; 2nd lowest of 4 divisions (Fiji: 29.9%).
What is the estimated population of the Western Division?
The 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey estimated the population of the Western Division at 330,434, 38.2% 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 Western Division?
The median age in the Western Division was 29 at the 2017 census (Fiji: 28); 28.2% of people were under 15 and 5.8% were 65 or older (Fiji: 29.4% and 5.6%).
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the sex ratio in the Western Division?
There were 103 males for every 100 females in the Western Division in 2017 (Fiji: 103).
Source: Fiji Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many adults live in the Western Division?
242,146 people in the Western 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 Western Division?
The 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey found an average of 4.1 people per household in the Western 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
- Central Division 361,459
- 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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