[1] The paradoxical results were both a triumph and a setback for the Alliance Party of the Prime Minister, Kamisese Mara.

Part of the reason for this discrepancy was that the slight surge in support for Mara's Alliance in the Indo-Fijian community, from 14 percent to 16 percent, was not sufficient to translate into seats in Fiji's communal electoral system, and did not therefore off-set losses among the ethnic Fijian community, particularly in the west of the country.

[2] One candidate – Subramani Basawaiya of the National Federation Party – was elected unopposed in the Savusavu–Macuatu East Indo-Fijian communal constituency, after his sole opponent, Alliance Party candidate Shiu Prasad, withdrew from the contest shortly before the elections.

[4] The Fijian-dominated Western United Front, established in July 1981 and led by Osea Gavidi, formed an electoral pact with the Indo-Fijian dominated National Federation Party, resulting in the NFP standing down in six Fijian national constituencies to allow the WUF to run.

Three deputy ministers lost their seats; Bill Clark, Ishwari Prasad Bajpai and Sakiasi Waqnivavalagi.