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The Fijians are a dark-skinned people of Melanesian origin and predominate mainly in the western islands; they account for nearly half the population. The indigenous people of the eastern islands are largely Polynesian. Indians, who mainly came from 1879 to 1916 as indentured workers for the British, make up less than half the population (many left after the 1987 coup) and are engaged chiefly in the sugar industry and commerce. There are also small groups of Europeans, Chinese, and Micronesians. The native Fijians are mainly Christian; the Indians are about three quarters Hindu and one quarter Muslim. The official language is Fijian, but English and Hindi are also spoken. The president, who serves for five years, appoints the prime minister. Administratively, Fiji is divided into four divisions and the dependency of Rotuma.
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