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.
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Oceania
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)
four times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
1,143 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish
agricultural land: 42%
arable land 2.5%; permanent crops 39.5%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 15%
other: 43% (2011 est.)
0 sq km (2012)
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
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
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
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)
106,925 (July 2016 est.)
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
I-Kiribati 89.5%, I-Kiribati/mixed 9.7%, Tuvaluan 0.1%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
I-Kiribati, English (official)
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.)
0-14 years: 30.16% (male 16,438/female 15,814)
15-24 years: 21.26% (male 11,285/female 11,447)
25-54 years: 38.59% (male 19,863/female 21,397)
55-64 years: 5.86% (male 2,827/female 3,436)
65 years and over: 4.13% (male 1,741/female 2,677) (2016 est.)
total dependency ratio: 63%
youth dependency ratio: 57%
elderly dependency ratio: 6%
potential support ratio: 16.6% (2015 est.)
total: 24.3 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 25.1 years (2016 est.)
1.14% (2016 est.)
21.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
urban population: 44.3% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
TARAWA (capital) 46,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
90 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
total: 33.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
total population: 66.2 years
male: 63.7 years
female: 68.8 years (2016 est.)
2.43 children born/woman (2016 est.)
22.3% (2009)
10.2% of GDP (2014)
0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 87.3% of population
rural: 50.6% of population
total: 66.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 12.7% of population
rural: 49.4% of population
total: 33.1% of population (2015 est.)
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 (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
40.1% (2014)
14.9% (2009)
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2008)
23.1
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
total: 54%
male: 47.6%
female: 61.8% (2010 est.)
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
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
etymology: the name is the local pronounciation of "Gilberts," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788
presidential republic
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
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)
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence); amended 1995, 2013 (2016)
English common law supplemented by customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members; term is 4 years (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 13 January 2012 (next to be held in 2015); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Taneti MAAMAU elected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU 60%, Rimeta BENIAMINA (BTK) 38.5%, Taneti IOANE (BTK) 1.5%
description: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two-rounds, 1 member appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders - representing Banaba Island, and 1 ex officio member - the attorney general; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first on 21 October 2011 and the second 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)
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
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
ABEDA, 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, WIPO, WMO
none; the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Makurita BAARO (since 21 May 2014); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1](212)867-3310; FAX: [1](212)867-3320
note: there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow
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
name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
note: adopted 1979
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Island countries. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted by the time of independence from the United Kingdom in 1979
Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The public sector dominates economic activity, with ongoing capital projects in infrastructure including the road rehabil
Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid, which was estimated to have contributed over 43% in 2013 to the government’s finances. The country’s sovereign fund, the Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund (RERF), which is held offshore, had an estimated balance of $6
$211 million (2016 est.)
$204.7 million (2015 est.)
$197.8 million (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
$166 million (2015 est.)
3.1% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
2.4% (2014 est.)
$1,800 (2016 est.)
$1,800 (2015 est.)
$1,800 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
agriculture: 26.3%
industry: 9.2%
services: 64.5% (2012 est.)
copra, breadfruit, fish
fishing, handicrafts
1.1% (2012 est.)
39,000
note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2010 est.)
agriculture: 15%
industry: 10%
services: 75% (2010)
30.6% (2010 est.)
6.1% (2005)
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $197.9 million
expenditures: $179.9 million (2013 est.)
119.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
10.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
8.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
8% of GDP (2012 est.)
NA
1.5% (2016 est.)
0.6% (2015 est.)
$NA
-$12 million (2016 est.)
$72 million (2015 est.)
$84.75 million (2013 est.)
$62.31 million (2012 est.)
fish, coconut products
$182.2 million (2013 est.)
$172.5 million (2012 est.)
food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
$8.37 million (31 December 2010 est.)
$13.6 million (2013 est.)
$14.1 million (2012 est.)
$NA
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.352 (2016 est.)
1.3291 (2015 est.)
1.3291 (2014 est.)
0.9695 (2013 est.)
0.9695 (2012 est.)
note:: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender
population without electricity: 43,839
electrification - total population: 59%
electrification - urban areas: 77%
electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
30 million kWh (2014 est.)
27.9 million kWh (2014 est.)
0 kWh (2013 est.)
0 kWh (2013 est.)
7,000 kW (2014 est.)
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
400 bbl/day (2014 est.)
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
509.6 bbl/day (2013 est.)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
58,450 Mt (2012 est.)
total subscriptions: 1,477
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2015 est.)
total: 41,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (July 2015 est.)
general assessment: generally good quality national and international service
domestic: wireline 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; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2015)
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)
.ki
total: 14,000
percent of population: 13% (July 2015 est.)
T3 (2016)
19 (2013)
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2013)
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
total: 670 km (2011)
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012)
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)
major seaport(s): Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor
no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force (2011)
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
none
