Kiribati

• Oceania, group of 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator;
• the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

• consists of three achipelagos spread out over an area roughly the size of India;
• the eastern Line Islands and central Phoenix Islands are sparsely populated, but the western Gilbert Islands are some of the most densely settled places on earth, with the main island of South Tarawa boasting a population density similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong

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

• heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to overcrowding mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping;
• ground water at risk;
• potential for water shortages, disease;
• coastal erosion

party to:

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

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• 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;
• Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)

noun:

I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

adjective:

I-Kiribati

• consists of three achipelagos spread out over an area roughly the size of India;
• the eastern Line Islands and central Phoenix Islands are sparsely populated, but the western Gilbert Islands are some of the most densely settled places on earth, with the main island of South Tarawa boasting a population density similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

0.93 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.82 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.64 male(s)/female

total population:

0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

improved:

total: 71.6% of population

unimproved:

total: 28.4% of population (2017 est.)

improved:

total: 61.1% of population

unimproved:

total: 38.9% of population (2017 est.)

degree of risk:

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases:

malaria

conventional long form:

Republic of Kiribati

conventional short form:

Kiribati

local long form:

Republic of Kiribati

local short form:

Kiribati

former:

Gilbert Islands

etymology:

• the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilberts," the former designation of the islands;
• originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788

note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss

3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions, but 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)

history:

• The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence);
• latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence)

amendments:

• proposed by the House of Assembly;
• passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership;
• passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly;
• amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum;
• amended 1995, 2013

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

7 years

chief of state:

• President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016);
• Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:

President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members;
• term is 4 years (eligible for 2 additional terms);
• election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024);
• vice president appointed by the president

election results:

Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%.

highest courts:

High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president); note - the High Court has jurisdiction on constitutional issues

judge selection and term of office:

• chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC);
• other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC

subordinate courts:

Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts

• Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (BKM) [Tessie LAMBOURNE]
• Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK or Pillars of Truth [Anote TONG]
• Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI]
• Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA]
• Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP [Taneti MAAMAU]

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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018)

chancery:

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, NY 10017

telephone:

[1](212)867-3310

FAX:

[1](212)867-3320; note - the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy

• the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean;
• the white stripes represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix Islands;
• the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island);
• the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom

name:

"Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)

lyrics/music:

Urium Tamuera IOTEBA

note: adopted 1979

agriculture:

15%

industry:

10%

services:

75% (2010)

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

number of registered air carriers:

2 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

66,567 (2018)

total:

89

by type:

bulk carrier 1general cargo 34, oil tanker 11, other 43 (2019)