1981 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1981 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
- About 690 km"
- 26km2
Coastline
- about 1,143 km
- about 24 km
Limits of territorial waters
- 3 nm (fishing 200 nm)
- 3 nm (fishing 200 nm, economic 200 nm)
NOTE
On 1 October 1975, by Constitutional Order, the Ellice Islands were formally, separated from the British colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands, thus forming the colony of Tuvalu. The remaining islands in th"e former Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony are now named Kiribati. Tuvalu includes the islands of Nanumanga, Nanumea, Nui, Niutao, Vaitupu, and the four islands of the Tuvalu group formerly claimed by the United States: Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulailai (Nukulaelae), and Nurakita (Niulakita).
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
- Micronesian
- 96% Polynesian
Labor force
15,921 (1973); general unemployment rate 4.9%
Literacy
- adult literacy ratio 90%
- less than 50%
Nationality
- noun — Kiribatian(s); adjective — Kiribati
- noun — Tuvaluans(s); adjective — Tuvaluan
Population
- 59,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.1%
- 9,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.4%
Religion
- Catholic
- Protestant
Government
Branches
35-member parliament, nationally elected President
Capital
- Tarawa
- Funafuti
Government leader
- President leremia TABAI Political parties and leaders: Gilbertese National Party, Christian Democratic Party
- Prime Minister Dr. Tomasi PUAPUA
House of Assembly
eight members
Member of
ADB, GATT (de facto)
Official name
- Republic of Kiribati
- Tuvalu
Type
- republic; became independent 12 July 1979
- constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth
Economy
Agriculture
copra, subsistence crops of vegetables, supplemented by domestic fishing
Aid
economic commitments — Western (non-US) countries, ODA (1970-79), $22 million
Budget
(1978) $1.6 million
Electric power
- 2,000 kW capacity (1981); 6 million kWh produced (1981), 104 kWh per capita
- 2,600 kW capacity (1979); 3.0 million kWh produced (1979), 433 kWh per capita
Exports
$67,000 (1977); copra
GDP
$36.0 million (1979 est), $630 per capita
GNP
$1.2 million (1975), $180 per capita
Imports
$1.44 million (1977); food and mineral fuels
Industry
phosphate production, which as of May 1979 was expected to cease in mid-1979
Major trade partners
Australia, UK
Monetary conversion rate
Australian (A)$1=US$1.12 (1979); A$1=US$1. 14 (1978)
Communications
Airfields
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Highways
8 km gravel
Inland waterways
none
Ports
1 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
1 AM station; about 300 radio telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 4,000 radio sets