2024 Edition Primary

Background

Kiribati is made up of three distinct island groups -- the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands, and the Phoenix Islands. The first Austronesian voyagers arrived in the Gilbert Islands as early as 3000 B.C., but these islands were not widely settled until about A.D. 200 by Micronesians. Around 1300, Samoans and Tongans invaded the southern Gilbert Islands, then known as Tungaru, bringing Polynesian cultural elements with them. Later arrivals of Fijians brought Melanesian elements to the Gilbert Islands, and extensive intermarriage between the Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian people led to the creation of what would become Gilbertese cultural traditions by the time Europeans spotted the islands in the 1600s. The Phoenix Islands and Line Islands were both visited by various Melanesian and Polynesian peoples, but their isolation and lack of natural resources meant that long-term settlements were not possible. Both island groups were uninhabited by the time of European contact. Kiribati experienced sustained European contact by the 1760s; all three island groups were named and charted by 1826. American whaling ships frequently passed through the islands, and the UK declared a protectorate over the Gilbert and nearby Ellice Islands in 1892, in an attempt to block growing US influence. Phosphate-rich Banaba Island was annexed to the protectorate in 1900. In 1916, the protectorate became a colony, and some Line Islands were added in 1916 and 1919, with the final ones added in 1972. The Phoenix Islands were added to the colony in 1937, and the UK agreed to share jurisdiction of some with the US because of their strategic location for aviation. During World War II, the islands were occupied by Japanese forces but were ejected by US amphibious assaults. The Ellice Islands became its own colony in 1974 and was renamed Tuvalu for “eight standing together” in 1975. The Gilbert Islands became fully self-governing in 1977 and independent in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati, the Gilbertese spelling of Gilberts. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Islands in a 1979 treaty of friendship.In 2012, Kiribati purchased a 22 sq km (8.5 sq mi) plot of land in Fiji for potential eventual resettlement of its population because of climate change, and in 2014 Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe BAINIMARAMA said residents of Kiribati would be welcome to relocate to Fiji if their country is swamped by rising sea levels.

Area

land

811 sq km

note

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)

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

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

2 m

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 (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

42% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 39.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

15% (2018 est.)

other

43% (2018 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

Age structure

0-14 years

26.8% (male 15,895/female 15,304)

15-64 years

67.9% (male 38,046/female 41,059)

65 years and over

5.4% (2024 est.) (male 2,423/female 3,818)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

19.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

8.6% (2019 est.)

women married by age 15

2.4%

women married by age 18

18.4%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.9% (2018/19)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

33.5% (2018/19)

Current health expenditure

11.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

67.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.2

potential support ratio

16.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

66.4

youth dependency ratio

60.2

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 63.1% of population

improved: total

total: 82% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.2% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 36.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 18% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.8% of population

Education expenditures

12.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

I-Kiribati 95.78%, I-Kiribati/mixed 3.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.05 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

female

29.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

33.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Gilbertese, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.3 years

male

65.9 years

total population

68.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

76 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

28.2 years

male

26.4 years

total

27.3 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.1 years (2009 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

adjective

Kiribati

noun

I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

46% (2016)

Physician density

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

female

60,181 (2024 est.)

male

56,364

total

116,545

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

Population growth rate

1% (2024 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 58.9%, Kiribati Uniting Church 21.2%, Kiribati Protestant Church 8.4%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.1%, Baha'i 2.1%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 45.4% of population

improved: total

total: 62.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 75.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 54.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 37.9% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 24.6% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.63 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

27.3% (2020 est.)

male

53.9% (2020 est.)

total

40.6% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

57.8% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

in Kiribati creation mythology, "tarawa" was what the spider Nareau named the land to distinguish it from "karawa" (the sky) and "marawa" (the ocean)

geographic coordinates

1 21 N, 173 02 E

name

Tarawa

time difference

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

time zone note

Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14

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 several times, last in 2018

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

note

note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Kiribati as well as Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu

note

Note:  the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati but has announced its intention to open an embassy

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

email address and website

Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki

FAX

[1] (212) 867-3320

telephone

[1] (212) 867-3310

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members

chief of state

President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)

election results

2020: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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, UNDP, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

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

Legal system

English common law supplemented by customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (45 seats; 44 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed, and 1 member appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders - representing Banaba Island; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 33 TKP, 8 BKM, 4 Independents; composition - 40 men, 5 women; percentage women 11% (as of September 2024)

elections

first round held on 14 August 2024; second round held on 19 August 2024 (next to be held in 2028)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Urium Tamuera IOTEBA

name

"Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)

note

note: adopted 1979

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Phoenix Islands Protected Area

total World Heritage Sites

1 (natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties

Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (Supporting Kiribati First) or BKM Tobwaan Kiribati Party (Embracing Kiribati) or TKP 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, bananas, vegetables, taro, tropical fruits, pork, chicken, nuts, eggs, pork offal (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$221.12 million (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$213.334 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

$71.279 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$20.251 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$6.46 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

lower-middle income, Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; sizable remittances; key phosphate mining fund; tourism and fishing industries; public sector-dominated economy; recent withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum; ongoing constitutional crisis

Exchange rates

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1.439 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

note

note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender

Exports

Exports 2020

$21.228 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$10.754 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$19.677 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

fish, ships, coconut oil, copra, raw sugar (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Thailand 55%, Philippines 15%, Japan 10%, Indonesia 8%, South Korea 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

7.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-92.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

23% (2016 est.)

industry

7% (2016 est.)

services

70% (2016 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$279.034 million (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

27.8 (2019 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.9% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

4% (2019 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2020

$148.77 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$201.984 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$254.438 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, rice, twine and rope, prepared meat (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Taiwan 25%, China 22%, Fiji 13%, Australia 9%, South Korea 7% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

21.11% (2021 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

-1.81% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

2.55% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.05% (2021 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Population below poverty line

21.9% (2020 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Public debt 2017

26.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$391.315 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$406.41 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$423.828 million (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

8.71% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.86% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.29% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$3,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$3,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,200 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

4.62% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

10.48% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

5.38% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.22% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

24.6%

male

21.2%

total

22.5% (2019 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

78,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

78,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

26.225 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

11,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

5 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

94.3% (2020 est.)

electrification - total population

94.4% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

86%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

84.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

15.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

8.403 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

500 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.2 (2020 est.)

total

185 (2020 est.)

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

54% (2021 est.)

total

70,200 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular approximately 42 per 100 subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

generally good 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; launch of Kacific-1 in December 2019 will improve telecommunication for Kiribati (2020)

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

(2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

0 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

49 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

64,000 (2022 est.)

Airports

21 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T3

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 11, other 37

total

74 (2023)

National air transport system

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

66,567 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

8

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Canton Island, English Harbor, Tarawa Atoll

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

3

Roadways

total

670 km (2017)

Waterways

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

Military - note

Australia, NZ, and the US have provided security assistance; Kiribati has a "ship rider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Kiribati's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; ship rider agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2024)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Kiribati Police and Prison Service (Ministry of Justice) (2024)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.07 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.02 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

7.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

42% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 39.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

15% (2018 est.)

other

43% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

57.8% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

35,724 tons (2016 est.)