Kiribati

Republic of Kiribati

republicIndependence 12 July 1979 (from UK)

Kiribati as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 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

Area811 sq km

LocationOceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator

Populationas each edition published it

96,335 people July 2002 est. · 70,012 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.28% 2002 est. · 2.03% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

60.54 years 2002 est. · 54.16 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.32 children per woman 2002 est. · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

52.63 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 65 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$840 2001 est. · $525 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.5% 2001 est. · 1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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.

Geography

18 fields

Land useshare of 811 sq km

arable land 0%permanent crops 50.68%other 49.32% (1998 est.)

Area

811sq km

note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islandswater: 0 sq kmland: 811 sq kmfour 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 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator;
the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia;
note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line

Geographic coordinates

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Map references

Oceania

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)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

21 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

18 fields

Population

96,335

(July 2002 est.)growth rate: 2.28% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth

31.58Death

8.76Net migration

Age structure

0-14 years:: 40.2% (male 19,588; female 19,092)
15-64 years:: 56.6% (male 26,905; female 27,625)
65 years and over:: 3.2% (male 1,339; female 1,786) (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

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 (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

52.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 60.54 years
female:: 63.62 years (2002 est.)
male:: 57.61 years

Total fertility rate

4.32 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian

Religions

Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of God (1999)

Languages

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Literacy

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

Government

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

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.4%

Teburoro TITO 50.4%Taberannang TIMEON 48.4%Bakeua Bakeua TEKITA 1.2%election last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held by November 2007)

House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu, 42 seatsone dot, one seat

BTK 17MTM 16independents 7other (includes attorney general) 2

Country name

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

note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss

Government type

republic

Capital

Tarawa

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 Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994);
Vice President Beniamina TIINGA (since NA December 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections:: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election;
president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held by November 2007);
vice president appointed by the president
election results:: Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of vote - Teburoro TITO 50.4%, Taberannang TIMEON 48.4%, Bakeua Bakeua TEKITA 1.2%
cabinet:: 12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament
head of government:: President Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994);
Vice President Beniamina TIINGA (since NA December 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - the attorney general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other; members serve four-year terms)

elections:: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; second round elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON];
Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO];
National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, 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.

31 fields

Real growth rate

1.5%

(2001 est.)industrial production growth: 0.7% (1991 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.5%

(2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Labor force

7,870economically active

not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1998 est.)

agriculture 30%industry 7%services 63% (1998 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$28.4 millionExpenditures

$37.2 million (2000 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)

Electricity

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

Electricity production

7 million (2000)Electricity consumption

6.51 million (2000)

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. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives.

Foreign financial aid, from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China, 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.