Cost-of-living pressures top concerns for Fijians, survey finds

Cost-of-living pressures are dominating how Fijians experience the economy, with nearly one in two identifying it as the country’s most pressing issue, a nationwide survey by Dialogue Fiji shows.

The survey found 49.2 per cent of respondents ranked the cost of living as the most important issue facing the country, reflecting growing strain on households.

“What we are seeing here is not a marginal concern but a near-consensus national crisis,” said Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal.

“The cost-of-living pressure is dominating how people experience the economy, and it is shaping expectations of what the national budget must deliver.”

Rising food prices have emerged as the most immediate concern, with 53.2 per cent of respondents identifying them as the biggest challenge facing their household.

“This is an extraordinary result,” Lal said.

“When more than half of respondents point to food prices as their biggest challenge, it tells us that this is not just widespread but rather is something households are confronting every single day.”

The survey also found that 69.8 per cent of respondents rated their household challenges as “Severe” or “Very Severe”, underlining the depth of financial pressure.

The findings are based on a national survey of 1266 respondents conducted between March and April 2026 across Fiji’s four divisions, using a mix of field interviews and online responses.

The sample covered a broad cross-section of communities, including urban areas (42.1 per cent), rural villages (27.6 per cent), peri-urban areas (19.4 per cent) and informal settlements (9.1 per cent).

Geographically, most respondents were from the Central Division (43.9 per cent), followed by Western (31.4 per cent) and Northern (23.5 per cent), with limited participation from the Eastern Division due to access challenges.

The survey also captured a diverse population profile, with women making up 54.6 per cent of respondents and the largest age group between 25 and 44 years. iTaukei and Indo-Fijian communities were both strongly represented in the sample.

Dialogue Fiji said the research was designed to capture citizen views on national issues and budget priorities ahead of the 2026–2027 national budget, particularly from communities often underrepresented in formal consultation processes.

The findings point to a widespread concern likely to shape expectations ahead of the 2026–2027 Budget.