This article lists the heads of state of Fiji, from the establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871 to the present day.
Currently, the head of state of Fiji is the president of the republic, appointed by the Parliament for a three-year term under the terms of the Constitution of 2013.[1]
The current president is Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. He was elected on 31 October 2024,[2] [3] and sworn in on 12 November 2024.
See main article: Fiji during the time of Cakobau and Kingdom of Fiji.
Note that Cakobau had been the Vunivalu (Warlord/Paramount Chief) of Bau since 1852. He had long styled himself the Tui Viti (King of Fiji), but had not been recognised as such by other chiefs, and he exercised no direct authority outside his domain of Bau until he united the country under his leadership in 1871. His ancestors, going back as far as 1770, have often – erroneously – been listed as "kings" of Fiji.
See main article: Colony of Fiji. On 10 October 1874, Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession, that granted the British Empire sovereignty over the islands. From 1874 to 1970, the British monarch was Fiji's formal head of state.
See main article: Governor of Fiji. The British monarch was represented by a governor, who acted on the advice of the British government.
See main article: Dominion of Fiji. Fiji became an independent Commonwealth realm on 10 October 1970,[4] and Elizabeth II assumed the role of Queen of Fiji.
See main article: Governor-General of Fiji. The Queen of Fiji was represented by a governor-general, who acted on the advice of the Fijian government.
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Monarch | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 | Sir Robert Sidney Foster | 10 October 1970 | 13 January 1973 | Elizabeth II | ||
| 2 | Ratu Sir George Cakobau | 13 January 1973 | 12 February 1983 | |||
| 3 | Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau | 12 February 1983 | 6 October 1987 | |||
See main article: President of Fiji. Fiji was proclaimed a republic on 7 October 1987,[5] upon the deposition of the Fijian monarchy following two military coups.