Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia
total: 811 sq km
country comparison to the world: 187
land: 811 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
four times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
arable land: 2.47%
permanent crops: 39.51%
other: 58.02% (2011)
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
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
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
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)
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)
I-Kiribati, English (official)
Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Baha'i 2.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% (2005 census)
103,248 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
0-14 years: 32.3% (male 16,989/female 16,355)
15-24 years: 21.2% (male 10,985/female 10,950)
25-54 years: 37.2% (male 18,486/female 19,955)
55-64 years: 5.3% (male 2,515/female 3,004)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,572/female 2,437) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 56.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 49.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 %
potential support ratio: 15.5 (2013)
total: 23.2 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 24.1 years (2013 est.)
1.21% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
22.18 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
-2.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
urban population: 44% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
TARAWA (capital) 43,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 156
total: 36.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 37.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 65.11 years
country comparison to the world: 173
male: 62.7 years
female: 67.64 years (2013 est.)
2.63 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
10.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 25
0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
46% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 8
11.6% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 4
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
local long form: Republic of Kiribati
local short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
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)
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
preindependence - The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975; latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence); amended 1995 (2013)
English common law supplemented by customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
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
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO
cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament
elections: the House of Parliament nominates the presidential candidates from among its members following parliamentary elections 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 13 January 2012 (next to be held in 2015); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Anote TONG 42.2%, Tetaua TAITAI 35%, Rimeta BENIAMINA 22.8%
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)
elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 21 October 2011 and the second round on 28 October 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)
highest court(s): High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)
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
Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote 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
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, WMO
Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US ambassador to Fiji, currently Ambassador Frankie A. REED, is accredited to Kiribati
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
name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
note: adopted 1979
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.
$669 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$172.6 million (2012 est.)
2.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$6,200 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
agriculture: 24.3%
industry: 7.9%
services: 67.8% (2010 est.)
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
7,870
country comparison to the world: 218
note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001)
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32%
services: 65.3% (2000)
2% (1992 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures: $107.1 million (2010 est.)
32.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
-29.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$-35.01 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$7.066 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
$80.09 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
$10 million (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
25 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
23.25 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
5,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 149
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
300 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
420.2 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 155
59,340 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
9,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 201
16,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 211
general assessment: generally good quality national and international service
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
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) (2010)
1 TV 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 broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2009)
327 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 188
7,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 204
19 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 137
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2013)
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m:
total: 670 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 190
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 108
total: 77
country comparison to the world: 58
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 35, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 15
foreign-owned: 43 (China 26, Hong Kong 2, Russia 1, Singapore 9, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, Vietnam 2) (2010)
major seaport(s): Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor
no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force (2011)
males age 16-49: 25,190 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 18,364
females age 16-49: 20,302 (2010 est.)
male: 1,132
female: 1,120 (2010 est.)
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
