2019 Edition

CIA World Factbook 2019 Archive (Wayback Machine)

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Countries

267

Data Records

66,981

Kiribati

2019 Edition · 244 data fields

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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. Kiribati joined the UN in 1999 and has been an active participant in international efforts to combat climate change.

Geography

Area

Land: 811 sq km
Total: 811 sq km
Water: 0 sq km

Area Comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

1,143 km

Elevation

Highest Point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m m
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean Elevation: 2 m

Environment Current Issues

heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to overcrowding mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk; potential for water shortages, disease; coastal erosion

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; Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)

Irrigated Land

0 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land: 42% (2011 est.)
Agricultural Land Arable Land: 2.5% (2011 est.)
Agricultural Land Permanent Crops: 39.5% (2011 est.)
Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
Forest: 15% (2011 est.)
Other: 43% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, group of 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

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), coconuts (copra), fish

Population Distribution

consists of three achipelagos spread out over an area roughly the size of India; the eastern Line Islands and central Phoenix Islands are sparsely populated, but the western Gilbert Islands are some of the most densely settled places on earth, with the main island of South Tarawa boasting a population density similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong

Terrain

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

People and Society

Age Structure

0 14 Years: 29.27% (male 16,316 /female 15,693)
15 24 Years: 20.74% (male 11,213 /female 11,466)
25 54 Years: 39.43% (male 20,756 /female 22,363)
55 64 Years: 6.23% (male 3,071 /female 3,747)
65 Years And Over: 4.34% (male 1,863 /female 2,879) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

21 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

14.9% (2009)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

22.3% (2009)

Current Health Expenditure

11.9% (2016)

Death Rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio: 6 (2015 est.)
Potential Support Ratio: 16.6 (2015 est.)
Total Dependency Ratio: 63 (2015 est.)
Youth Dependency Ratio: 57 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural: 50.6% of population
Improved Total: 66.9% of population
Improved Urban: 87.3% of population
Unimproved Rural: 49.4% of population
Unimproved Total: 33.1% of population (2015 est.)
Unimproved Urban: 12.7% of population

Ethnic Groups

I-Kiribati 96.2%, I-Kiribati/mixed 1.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.8% (2015 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female: 29.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 31.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female: 69.5 years
Male: 64.3 years
Total Population: 66.9 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

92 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female: 25.8 years
Male: 24.1 years
Total: 25 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

23.1 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

Adjective: I-Kiribati
Noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

46% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

109,367 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.12% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 57.3%, Kiribati Uniting Church 31.3%, Mormon 5.3%, Baha'i 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, other 2.1% (2015 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural: 30.6% of population (2015 est.)
Improved Total: 39.7% of population (2015 est.)
Improved Urban: 51.2% of population (2015 est.)
Unimproved Rural: 69.4% of population (2015 est.)
Unimproved Total: 60.3% of population (2015 est.)
Unimproved Urban: 48.8% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female: 12 years (2008)
Male: 11 years
Total: 12 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15 24 Years: 0.98 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
At Birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Total Population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.34 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female: 7.4% (2015 est.)
Male: 22.2%
Total: 17.1%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Urban Population: 54.8% of total population (2019)

Government

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)

Capital

Geographic Coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E
Name: Tarawa
Time Difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

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

Constitution

Amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly; amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum; amended 1995, 2013 (2017)
History: The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence)

Country Name

Conventional Long Form: Republic of Kiribati
Conventional Short Form: Kiribati
Etymology: the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilberts," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788
Former: Gilbert Islands
Local Long Form: Republic of Kiribati
Local Short Form: Kiribati

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

none; the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy; it is headed by Teburoro TITO (since 13 September 2017); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1](212)867-3310; FAX: [1](212)867-3320

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
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
Election Results: Taneti MAAMAU elected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU 60%, Rimeta BENIAMINA (BTK) 38.6%, Taneti IOANE (BTK) 1.4%
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 9 March 2016 (next to be held in 2020); vice president appointed by the president
Head Of Government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016)

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

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

12 July 1979 (from the UK)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts: 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

Legal System

English common law supplemented by customary law

Legislative Branch

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 if needed; 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)
Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BTK 26, KTK and MKP 19, other 2 (includes attorney general); composition - men 43, women 3, percent of women 6.5%
Elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first on 30 December 2015 and the second on 7 January 2016 (next to be held in 2019)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
Name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

National Symbol S

frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow

Political Parties And Leaders

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK or Pillars of Truth [Anote TONG] Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI] Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA] Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP [Taneti MAAMAU]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Economy

Agriculture Products

copra, breadfruit, fish

Budget

Expenditures: 277.5 million (2017 est.)
Revenues: 151.2 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-64.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current Account Balance

2016: $35 million
2017: $18 million

Debt External

2015: $32.3 million
2016: $40.9 million

Economy Overview

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. Earnings from fishing licenses and seafarer remittances are important sources of income. Although the number of seafarers employed declined due to changes in global shipping demands, remittances are expected to improve with more overseas temporary and seasonal work opportunities for Kiribati nationals.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 road rehabilitation, water and sanitation projects, and renovations to the international airport, spurring some growth. Public debt increased from 23% of GDP at the end of 2015 to 25.8% in 2016.Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid, which was estimated to have contributed over 32.7% in 2016 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 $855.5 million in late July 2016. The RERF seeks to avoid exchange rate risk by holding investments in more than 20 currencies, including the Australian dollar, US dollar, the Japanese yen, and the Euro. Drawdowns from the RERF helped finance the government’s annual budget.

Exchange Rates

2013: 1.11
2014: 1.33
2015: 1.34
2016: 1.34
2017: 1.31
Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exports

2012: $62.31 million
2013: $84.75 million

Exports Commodities

fish, coconut products

Exports Partners

Philippines 50.8%, Malaysia 17.2%, US 11.4%, Bangladesh 5.8%, Fiji 5.4% (2017)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture: 23% (2016 est.)
Industry: 7% (2016 est.)
Services: 70% (2016 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$197 million (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015: $2,000
2016: $2,000
2017: $2,000

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015: $217.7 million
2016: $220.2 million
2017: $227 million

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015: 10.3%
2016: 1.1%
2017: 3.1%

Imports

2013: $182.2 million
2016: $107.1 million

Imports Commodities

food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports Partners

Australia 29.3%, Fiji 17.3%, NZ 10.7%, China 5.8%, US 5.8%, Singapore 5.1%, Japan 4.6%, Thailand 4.1% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.1% (2012 est.)

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016: 1.9%
2017: 0.4%

Labor Force

39,000 (2010 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture: 15%
Industry: 10%
Services: 75% (2010)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

Public Debt

2016: 22.9% of GDP
2017: 26.3% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2010: $8.37 million
31 December 2017: $0

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

Taxes And Other Revenues

76.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2005: 6.1%
2010: 30.6%

Energy

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
Total: 76

Broadcast Media

multi-channel TV packages provide access to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2017)

Internet Country Code

.ki

Internet Users

Percent Of Population: 13.7% (July 2016 est.)
Total: 14,649

Telephone System

Domestic: fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 43 per 100 subscriptions
General Assessment: generally good quality national and international service; wireline service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; recently formed mobile network operator (MNO) is implementing the first phase of improvements with 3G and 4G upgrades on some islands; islands are connected to each other and the rest of the world via satellite
International: country code - 686; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable system from Australia, 7 Pacific Ocean island countries to the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants: 1 (2017 est.)
Total Subscriptions: 765

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants: 43 (2017 est.)
Total Subscriptions: 46,123

Transportation

Airports

19 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M: 4 (2017)
Total: 4 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M: 10 (2013)
Total: 15 (2013)
Under 914 M: 5 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

T3 (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 46, oil tanker 16, other 46 (2018)
Total: 111

Ports And Terminals

Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor

Roadways

670 km (2017)

Waterways

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012)

Military and Security

Military And Security Forces

no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force (2011)

Military Note

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes International

none