Kiribati

Republic of Kiribati

republicIndependence 12 July 1979 (from UK)

Kiribati as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 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

Position1 25 N, 173 00 E

Area717 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

85,501 people July 1999 est. · 70,012 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.78% 1999 est. · 2.03% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

62.88 years 1999 est. · 54.16 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.09 children per woman 1999 est. · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

48.22 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 65 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$800 1996 est. · $525 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.9% 1996 est. · 1% in 1993

Geography

18 fields

Land useshare of 717 sq km

permanent crops 51%forests and woodland 3%other 46% (1993 est.)arable land: NA% · permanent pastures: NA%

Area

717sq km

land: 717 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes three island groups--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islandsfour times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

1,143km

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

Highest point

81m

unnamed location on Banabalowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia;
note--on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the country

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)

Natural hazards

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes

Environment--current issues

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

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography--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

14 fields

Population

85,501

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

26.13Death

7.53Net migration

-0.77

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Infant mortality rate

48.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 62.88 years
male:: 61.02 years
female:: 64.98 years (1999 est.)

Nationality

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)

Government

Republic; President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52.3%

-Teburoro TITO 52.3%Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%Taberannang TIMEON 0%election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NA November 2002)

Legislature, 28 seats, elected 23 September 1998one dot, one seat

-Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14independents 14

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form:: Kiribati

note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss

former:: Gilbert Islands

Administrative divisions

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)

Independence

12 July 1979 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Constitution

12 July 1979

Legal system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994);
Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994);
Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up to eight other ministers
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
note--the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election;
election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NA November 2002);
vice president appointed by the president
election results:: Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of vote--Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2002)
election results:: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11, independents 14

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president;
High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president;
26 Magistrates' courts, judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

National Progressive Party [Teatao

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

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati

Flag description

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

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, | Kiribati has few national resources.

30 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$800

purchasing power parity? · (1996 est.)

Real growth rate

1.9%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 0.7% (1992 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

-0.6%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 14%industry 7%services 79% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$33.3 millionExpenditures

$47.7 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

7 million (1996)Electricity consumption

7 million (1996)

Economy--overview

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national resources. 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. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.