Kiribati

Republic of Kiribati

republicIndependence 12 July 1979 (from UK)

Kiribati as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 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

LocationOceania, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between

Populationas each edition published it

76,320 people July 1993 est. · 70,012 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.03% 1993 est. · 0.98% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

54.16 years 1993 est. · 68.5 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.82 children per woman 1993 est. · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

98.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 65 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$525 1990 est. · $3,300 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

1% 1990 est. · 5.3% in 2025

Geography

Oceania, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between | Hawaii and Australia

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Land useshare of 717 km2

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

Area

717km2

land area: 717 km2comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DCnote: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Coastline

1,143km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Oceania, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

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)

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

14 fields

Population

76,320

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.03% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

32.03Death

12.31Net migration

0.56

Labor force

7,870economically active

not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

Infant mortality rate

98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 54.16 years
male:: 52.56 years
female:: 55.78 years (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective:: I-Kiribati

Religions

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

Literacy

total population:: NA%
male:
NA% female:: NA%

Government

Republic

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form:: Kiribati
former:: Gilbert Islands

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 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang,

Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina

Independence

12 July 1979 (from UK)

Constitution

12 July 1979

Legal system

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Political parties and leaders

National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI;
Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO;
New Movement Party, leader NA;
Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA;
Maneaba Party, Roniti TEIWAKI

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

President:: last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
House of Assembly:: last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA

Executive branch

president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, High Court

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991)

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: (vacant)

US diplomatic representation

the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

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.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$525

(1990 est.)

Real growth rate

(1990 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 0% (1988 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

4.8%

(1991 est.)

External debt

$2million

(December 1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$29.9 millionExpenditures

$16.3 million

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

Overview

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 both 1989 and 1990.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $36.8 million (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: copra 18%, fish 17%, seaweed 13%
partners:: EC 50%, Fiji 22%, US 18% (1990)

Imports

$26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
partners:: Australia 33%, Japan 24%, Fiji 19%, NZ 6%, US 6% (1990)

Electricity

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

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Agriculture

accounts for 15% 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 (1970-89), $273 million

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)

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)

Airports

total:: 21
useable:: 20
with permanent-surface runways:: 4
with runways over 3,659 m :: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5

Telecommunications

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

Defense Forces

Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; | there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is | maintained

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