1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline
1,143 km
Comparative area
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Disputes
none
Environment
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
717 km2; includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 51%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 3%; other 46%
Natural resources
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Note
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
Terrain
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
717 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
33 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
12 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
Micronesian
Infant mortality rate
99 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
Languages
English (official), Gilbertese
Life expectancy at birth
52 years male, 56 years female (1992)
Literacy
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Nationality
noun - I-Kiribati (singular and plural); adjective - I-Kiribati
Net migration rate
1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
Kiribati Trades Union Congress - 2,500 members
Population
74,788 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)
Religions
Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)
Total fertility rate
3.9 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
Capital
Tarawa
Chief of State and Head of Government
President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991)
Constitution
12 July 1979
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa (Kiribati) US: the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Executive branch
president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet
Flag
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
House of Assembly
last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA
Independence
12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal, High Court
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
Long-form name
Republic of Kiribati; note - pronounced Kiribas
Member of
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP (associate), IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTO
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Political parties and leaders
National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; 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
President
last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held May 1995); results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 30% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish contribute about 95% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food
Budget
revenues $29.9 million; expenditures $16.3 million, including capital expenditures of $14.0 million (1990 est.)
Currency
Australian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Economic aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $273 million
Electricity
5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced, 190 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3177 (March 1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986)
Exports
$5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: fish 55%, copra 42% partners: EC 20%, Marshall Islands 12%, US 8%, American Samoa 4% (1985)
External debt
$2.0 million (December 1989 est.)
Fiscal year
NA
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $36.8 million, per capita $525; real growth rate 1.0% (1990 est.)
Imports
$26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, fuel, transportation equipment partners: Australia 39%, Japan 21%, NZ 6%, UK 6%, US 3% (1985)
Industrial production
growth rate 0% (1988 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP
Industries
fishing, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.0% (1990 est.)
Overview
The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1% in both 1989 and 1990.
Unemployment rate
2% (1985); considerable underemployment
Communications
Airports
21 total; 20 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
2 Trislanders; no major transport aircraft
Highways
640 km of motorable roads
Inland waterways
small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports
Banaba and Betio (Tarawa)
Telecommunications
1,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
no military force maintained; the Police Force carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
NA