Introduction
Background
The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and a colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943. The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
Geography
Location
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Area (sq km)
total: 811 sq km
land: 811 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, and Phoenix Islands - dispersed over about 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mi)
Area - comparative (sq km)
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
1,143 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use (%)
arable land: 2.47%
permanent crops: 39.51%
other: 58.02% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level
Environment - current issues
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru; Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)
People and Society
Nationality
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups (%)
I-Kiribati 89.5%, I-Kiribati/mixed 9.7%, Tuvaluan 0.1%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages (%)
I-Kiribati, English (official)
Religions (%)
Roman Catholic 55.8%, Kempsville Presbyterian Church 33.5%, Mormon 4.7%, Baha'i 2.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 2%, other 1.5%, none 0.2%, unspecified 0.05% (2010 est.)
Population
104,488 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 31.5% (male 16,779/female 16,151)
15-24 years: 21.3% (male 11,099/female 11,122)
25-54 years: 37.8% (male 18,978/female 20,477)
55-64 years: 5.5% (male 2,605/female 3,137)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,630/female 2,510) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 23.6 years
male: 22.7 years
female: 24.4 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
1.18% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
21.85 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-2.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 43.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
TARAWA (capital) 44,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 35.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 65.47 years
male: 63.03 years
female: 68.02 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
2.56 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
10.1% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 87.4% of population
rural: 50.6% of population
total: 66.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 12.6% of population
rural: 49.4% of population
total: 33.2% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 51.2% of population
rural: 30.6% of population
total: 39.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 48.8% of population
rural: 69.4% of population
total: 60.3% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
46% (2008)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
12% of GDP (2001)
Literacy (%)
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
local long form: Republic of Kiribati
local short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands
Government type
republic
Capital
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
note: on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory was in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction were on the other side of the International Date Line
Administrative divisions
3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions but there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution
preindependence - The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975; latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence); amended 1995 (2013)
Legal system
English common law supplemented by customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO
cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament
elections: the House of Parliament nominates the presidential candidates from among its members following parliamentary elections and then those candidates compete in a general election; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on 13 January 2012 (next to be held in 2015); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Anote TONG 42.2%, Tetaua TAITAI 35%, Rimeta BENIAMINA 22.8%
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders (representing Banaba Island); members serve four-year terms)
elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 21 October 2011 and the second round on 28 October 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)
Judicial branch
highest court(s): High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)
note - the High Court has jurisdiction on constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC); other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders
Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote TONG]
Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI]
Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA]
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Makurita BAARO (since 21 May 2014); note - also serves as Permanent Representative to the UN
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, New York 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 867-3310
FAX: [1] (212) 867-3320
consulate(s): there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US ambassador to Fiji, currently Ambassador Frankie A. REED, is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description
the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; the white stripes represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix Islands; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom
National symbol(s)
frigatebird
National anthem
name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
note: adopted 1979
Economy
Economy - overview
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Islands. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. Private sector initiatives and a financial sector are in the early stages of development. Foreign financial aid from the EU, UK, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UN agencies, and Taiwan accounts for 20-25% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust fund.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$698 million (2013 est.)
$678.2 million (2012 est.)
$660.1 million (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$173 million (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
2.9% (2013 est.)
2.8% (2012 est.)
2.7% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$6,400 (2013 est.)
$6,300 (2012 est.)
$6,300 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 24.3%
industry: 7.9%
services: 67.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force
7,870
note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32%
services: 65.3% (2000)
Unemployment rate (%)
2% (1992 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures: $107.1 million (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
32.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-29.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
0.2% (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture - products
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Industries
fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Current account balance
-$35.01 million (2010 est.)
-$21 million (2007 est.)
Exports
$7.066 million (2010 est.)
$17 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Imports
$80.09 million (2010 est.)
$62 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$8.37 million (2010 est.)
External debt ($)
$10 million (1999 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.031 (2011)
0.9695 (2011 est.)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
Fiscal year
NA
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
25 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
23.25 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
5,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
300 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
420 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
59,340 Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
9,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
16,000 (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: generally good quality national and international service
domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999
international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2010)
Broadcast media
1 TV broadcast station that provides about 1 hour of local programming Monday-Friday; multi-channel TV packages provide access to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2009)
Internet country code
.ki
Internet hosts
327 (2012)
Internet users
7,800 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
19 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 670 km (2011)
Waterways (km)
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012)
Merchant marine
total: 77
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 35, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 15
foreign-owned: 43 (China 26, Hong Kong 2, Russia 1, Singapore 9, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, Vietnam 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor
Military
Military branches
no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force (2011)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 25,190 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 18,364
females age 16-49: 20,302 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 1,132
female: 1,120 (2010 est.)
Military - note
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Largest cities of Kiribati
These are the 50 largest cities of Kiribati ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bairiki | 44,428 |