Republic of Fiji is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets. The most outlying island group is Ono-i-Lau. About 87% of the population live on the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.