2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

811 sq km

total

811 sq km

water

0 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Coastline

1,143 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

1 25 N, 173 00 E

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2.74%

other

49.31% (2005)

permanent crops

47.95%

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; 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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Natural resources

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Terrain

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.6% (male 21,488/female 20,899) 15-64 years: 59% (male 32,871/female 33,690) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 1,656/female 2,246) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

23.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

17.8% of GDP (2002)

Ethnic groups

Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

38.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

41.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

40.13 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.49 years (2010 est.)

male

61.68 years

total population

64.03 years

Literacy

NA

Median age

female

23 years (2010 est.)

male

21.4 years

total

22.2 years

Nationality

adjective

I-Kiribati

noun

I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-2.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

99,482 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.271% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Bahai 2.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% (2005 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2005)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.86 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

44% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in addition, 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)

Capital

geographic coordinates

1 19 N, 172 58 E

name

Tarawa

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

12 July 1979

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kiribati

conventional short form

Kiribati

former

Gilbert Islands

local long form

Republic of Kiribati

local short form

Kiribati note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Diplomatic representation in the US

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

Executive branch

cabinet

12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%

elections

the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among its members 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 17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO

Flag description

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 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 frigate bird symbolizes authority and freedom

Government type

republic

Independence

12 July 1979 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Legal system

English common law supplemented by local, customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)

elections

legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 22 August 2007 and the second round on 30 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Urium Tamuera IOTEBA note: adopted 1979

name

"Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Political parties and leaders

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG] 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Current account balance

-$21 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$10 million (1999 est.)

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.

Electricity - consumption

13.02 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

14 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)

Exports

$17 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8.9%

industry

24.2%

services

66.8% (2004)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2010 est.) $6,200 (2009 est.) $6,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.) -0.7% (2009 est.) -1.1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$152 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$619.5 million (2010 est.) $610.4 million (2009 est.) $614.7 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$62 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.7%

industry

32%

services

65.3% (2000)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

NA bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

261 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

2% (1992 est.)

Broadcast media

1 television 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 broadcasting on AM, FM, and shortwave (2009)

Internet country code

.ki

Internet hosts

31 (2010)

Internet users

7,800 (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

generally good quality national and international service

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

4,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,000 (2009)

Airports

19 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 4 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 6, cargo 32, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 15

foreign-owned

51 (China 28, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Singapore 11, South Korea 2, Taiwan 5, Turkey 3) (2010)

total

71

Ports and terminals

Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor

Roadways

total

670 km (2000)

Waterways

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 24,734 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,941 females age 16-49: 19,758 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

1,083 (2010 est.)

male

1,107

Military - note

Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Military branches

no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Police Force (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================