1983 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1983 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
limited; copra, subsistence crops of vegetables, supplemented by domestic fishing
Aid
Western (non-US) commitments (ODA; 1979), $46.0million; Australia(1980-83), $8.1 million committed
Airfields
15 total; 12 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways, 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Area
About 690 kmz Water
Branches
unicameral legislature (35member House of Assembly); nationally elected President
Budget
$15.2 million (1979)
Capital
Tarawa
Civil air
2 Trislanders; however, no major transport aircraft
Coastline
about 1,143 km People
Electric power
2,000 kW capacity (1981); 6 million kWh produced (1981), 102 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
Micronesian
Exports
$20 million (1979); 88% phosphate, 11.6% copra
GDP
$36.0 million (1979 est), $630 per capita
Government leader
leremia T. TABA1, President Political parties and leaders: Gilbertese National Party, Christian Democratic Party
Highways
483 km of motorable roads
Imports
$15 million (1979); foodstuffs, fuel, transportation equipment
Industry
formerly phosphate production; supply exhausted by mid-1981
Inland waterways
small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Northern Line Islands
Labor force
15,921 (1973); general unemployment rate 4.9% Government
Languages
English (official), Gilbertese
Limits of territorial waters
3 nm (fishing 200 nm)
Literacy
90%
Member of
ADB, Commonwealth, GATT (de facto), ICAO Economy
Monetary conversion rate
1.0392 Australian$=US$l (23 February 1983) Communications
Official name
Republic of Kiribati
Population
61,000 (July 1984), average annual growth rate 1.6% Nationality, noun — Kiribatian(s); adjective — Kiribati
Ports
3 minor Korea, North
Railroads
none
Religion
Roman Catholic, Protestant
Telecommunications
1 AM broadcast station; 1,400 telephones (2.33 per 100 popl.)
Type
republic