Kiribati

republicIndependence 12 July 1979 (from UK

Kiribati as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 63 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalTarawa

Area717 km2

Populationas each edition published it

71,137 people July 1991 · 70,012 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.03% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 54.16 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.2 children per woman 1991 · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

63 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 65 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $525 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 1% in 1993

Geography

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Total area

717km2

land area: 717 km2; includes three island groups--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix IslandsComparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

1,143 km Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Natural resources

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use

arable land NEGL%;
permanent crops 51%;
meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 3%;
other 46%

Environment

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited

Note

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

People

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Population

71,137

(July 1991), growth rate 1.6% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

33Death

Labor force

7,870economically active

(1985 est.)

Nationality

noun--I-Kiribati (sing., pl.); adjective--I-Kiribati

Religion

Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

Organized labor

Kiribati Trades Union Congress--2,500 members

Government

Republic

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.1%

Ieremia TABAI 50.1%Tebruroro TITO 42.7%Tetao TEANNAKI 7.2%12 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991)

Long-form name

Republic of Kiribati; note--pronounced Kiribas

Administrative divisions

3 units;
Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands;
note--a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 20 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina

Independence

12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, High Court Chief of State and Head of Government--President Ieremia TABAI (since 12 July 1979);
Vice President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 20 July 1979) Gilbertese National Party;
Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO, secretary;
essentially not organized on the basis of political parties

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held on 12 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991);
results--Ieremia TABAI 50.1%, Tebruroro TITO 42.7%, Tetao TEANNAKI 7.2%;
House of Assembly--last held on 19 March l987 (next to be held May 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA

Member of

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP (associate), IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa (Kiribati); US--none

Flag

the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Economy

The country has few national resources.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$36.8million

per capita $525; real growth rate 1.0% (1990 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

4.0%

(1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1985); considerable underemployment

External debt

$2.0million

(December 1989 est.)

Exports $5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities, where a share is given

fish

55%copra

42%

; partners--EC 20%, Marshall Islands 12%, US 8%, American Samoa 4% (1985)

Budget

Revenues

$29.9 millionExpenditures

$16.3 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $14.0 million (1990 est.)

The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains.

Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1% in 1989 and again in 1990.

Imports

$26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);
commodities--foodstuffs, fuel, transportation equipment;
partners--Australia 39%, Japan 21%, NZ 6%, UK 6%, US 3% (1985)

Industrial production

growth rate 0.0% (1988 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP

Electricity

5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced, 190 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Agriculture

accounts for 30% of GDP (including fishing);
copra and fish contribute about 95% to exports;
subsistence farming predominates;
food crops--taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables;
not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $258 million

Currency

Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January 1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year

Communications

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Highways

640 km of motorable roads

Inland waterways

small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands

Ports

Banaba and Betio (Tarawa)

Civil air

2 Trislanders; no major transport aircraft

Airports

22 total;
21 usable;
4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m;
5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

1,400 telephones;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV;
1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

No military force maintained; the Police Force carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands

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