Kiribati

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 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

• typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
• occasional tornadoes;
• low-level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to sea-level rise

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

40.85% (male 19,027; female 18,551)

15-64 years:

56% (male 25,411; female 26,097)

65 years and over:

3.15% (male 1,239; female 1,660) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.75 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

total population:

59.78 years

male:

56.89 years

female:

62.82 years (2000 est.)

noun:

I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

adjective:

I-Kiribati

definition:

NA

total population:

NA%

male:

NA%

female:

NA%

conventional long form:

Republic of Kiribati

conventional short form:

Kiribati

note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss

former:

Gilbert Islands

chief of state:

• President Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994);
• Vice President Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994);
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994);
• Vice President 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%

• 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

• Liberal Party [Tewareka TENTOA];
• Maneaban Te Mauri Party [Teburoro TITO];
• National Progressive Party [Teatao TEANNAKI];
• New Movement Party [leader NA]

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

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service

total:

670 km (1996 est.)

paved:

NA km

unpaved:

NA km

total:

1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT

ships by type:

passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.)