Kiribati
republicIndependence 12 July 1979 (from UK)
Kiribati as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, Micronesia, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, | about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
24 fieldsLocation
Oceania, Micronesia, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
total area
717 sq km
land area
717 sq km
comparative area
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
note
includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
arable land
0%
permanent crops
51%
meadows and pastures
0%
forest and woodland
3%
other
46%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; subject to occasional tornadoes
international agreements
party to - Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change
Note
20 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
People
19 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
54.16 years
male
52.56 years
female
55.78 years (1994 est.)
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)
total population
NA%
male
NA%
female
NA%
Government
Republic
24 fieldsconventional long form
Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form
Kiribati
former
Gilbert 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
chief of state and head of government
- President (Beretitenti) Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991);
- Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991);
- election last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996);
- results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
cabinet
Cabinet; appointed by the president from an elected parliament
House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
- elections 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
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
Member of
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
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.
25 fieldsOverview
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.
revenues
$29.9 million
expenditures
$16.3 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1990 est.)
commodities
copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15%
partners
Denmark, Fiji, US
commodities
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
partners
Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991)
capacity
5,000 kW
production
13 million kWh
consumption per capita
190 kWh (1990)
Agriculture
- accounts for 23% of GDP (including fishing);
- copra and fish contribute about 65% to exports;
- subsistence farming predominates;
- food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables;
- not self-sufficient in food
recipient
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $273 million
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Communications
13 fieldstotal
640 km
paved
NA
unpaved
NA
total
21
usable
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
2 fieldsBranches
Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is maintained
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Kiribati.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/kiribati/1994.