World Facts Index
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 of Kiribati
|
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 |
|
Coordinates:
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1 25 N, 173 00 E |
|
Area:
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total: 811 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line
Islands, Phoenix Islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 811 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
four times the size of
Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
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1,143 km |
|
Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
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tropical; marine, hot and
humid, moderated by trade winds |
|
Terrain:
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mostly low-lying coral
atolls surrounded by extensive reefs |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
phosphate (production
discontinued in 1979) |
|
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 |
|
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
|
Population of Kiribati
|
Population:
|
110,356 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 20,608/female 20,060)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 30,216/female 31,004)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,517/female 2,027) |
|
Median age:
|
20.2 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
2.24% |
|
Infant mortality:
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47.27 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 62.08 years
male: 59.06 years
female: 65.24 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
4.16 children born/woman |
|
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:
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I-Kiribati, English (official) |
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Kiribati
former: Gilbert Islands
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss |
|
Government type:
|
republic |
|
Capital:
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Tarawa |
|
Administrative divisions:
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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:
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12 July 1979 (from UK) |
|
National holiday:
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Independence Day, 12 July (1979) |
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Constitution:
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12 July 1979 |
|
Legal system:
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NA |
|
Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
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
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 (eligible for two more
terms); election last held 17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice
president appointed by the president. |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu
(42 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the attorney general, 1
appointed to represent Banaba, and 1 other; members serve four-year terms) |
|
Judicial branch:
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Court of Appeal; High Court; 26
Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president |
|
Political parties and leaders:
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Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON];
Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP; 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. |
Economy
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural
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. Private sector initiatives and a financial sector
are in the early stages of development. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand, and China equals more than 10% of GDP. Remittances
from seamen on merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each
year. Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget
from an Australian trust fund.
|
GDP:
|
$348 million (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
0.3% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
purchasing power parity -
$840 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 30%
industry: 7%
services: 63% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
2.5% |
|
Labor force:
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7,870 economically active,
not including subsistence farmers |
|
Unemployment:
|
2%; underemployment 70% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $28.4
million
expenditures: $37.2 million |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
fishing, handicrafts |
|
Agriculture:
|
copra, taro, breadfruit,
sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish |
|
Exports:
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copra 62%, coconuts,
seaweed, fish |
|
Export partners:
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US 25%, Belgium 23.6%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 10.8%,
Australia 6.6%, Denmark 4.9%, NZ 4% |
|
Imports:
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foodstuffs, machinery and
equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel |
|
Import partners:
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Australia 32.1%, Fiji 28%, Japan 18%, NZ 6% |
|
Currency:
|
Australian dollar (AUD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |