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 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

• 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

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

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 (2005 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 keer-ree-bahss

former:

Gilbert Islands

• 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)

chief of state:

• President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003);
• Vice President Teima ONORIO;
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003);
• Vice President Teima ONORIO;
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:

12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament

elections:

• the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete in a general election;
• president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
• election last held 4 July 2003 (next to be held not later than July 2007);
• vice president appointed by the president

election results:

Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA 9.1%

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

• Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON];
• Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO];
• Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [leader NA];
• 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

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

general assessment:

generally good quality national and international service

domestic:

• wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati;
• connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone;
• wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999

international:

• country code - 686;
• Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service;
• satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

total:

670 km

paved:

NA km

unpaved:

NA km (1999 est.)

total:

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

by type:

passenger/cargo 1 (2005)