The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and a colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943. 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 halfway between Hawaii and Australia

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Oceania

four times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

1,143 km

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish

arable land 2.5%; permanent crops 39.5%; permanent pasture 0%

0 sq km (2012)

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 heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

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)

108,145 (July 2017 est.)

I-Kiribati 96.2%, I-Kiribati/mixed 1.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.8% (2015 est.)

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Roman Catholic 57.3%, Kiribati Uniting Church 31.3%, Mormon 5.3%, Baha'i 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, other 2.1% (2015 est.)

1.13% (2017 est.)

21.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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

TARAWA (capital) 46,000 (2014)

23.1 years

90 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.39 children born/woman (2017 est.)

22.3% (2009)

10.2% of GDP (2014)

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

urban: 87.3% of population

rural: 50.6% of population

total: 66.9% of population

urban: 12.7% of population

rural: 49.4% of population

total: 33.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 51.2% of population

rural: 30.6% of population

total: 39.7% of population

urban: 48.8% of population

rural: 69.4% of population

total: 60.3% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

46% (2016)

14.9% (2009)

presidential republic

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)

12 July 1979 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence); amended 1995, 2013 (2016)

English common law supplemented by customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote TONG]

Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI]

Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA]

ABEDA, ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

none; the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Makurita BAARO (since 21 May 2014); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1](212)867-3310; FAX: [1](212)867-3320

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

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

frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Island countries. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted by the time of independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. Earnings from fishing licenses and seafarer remittances are important sources of income, however, remittances and the number of seafarers employed declined in the global crisis, but has since improved. In 2013, fishing license revenues contributed close to half of government’s total revenue and total remittances from seafarers were equivalent to 6% of GDP.

Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The public sector dominates economic activity, with ongoing capital projects in infrastructure including road rehabilitation, water and sanitation projects, and renovations to the international airport, spurring some growth. Public debt increased from less than 10% of GDP in 2014 to 23% of GDP at the end of 2015 due to the Bonriki International Airport repair and upgrade project financed by development partner concessional loans.

Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid, which was estimated to have contributed over 43% in 2013 to the government’s finances. The country’s sovereign fund, the Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund (RERF), which is held offshore, had an estimated balance of $571 million (A$756 million) in 2015, equivalent to 344% of GDP. The RERF seeks to avoid exchange rate risk by holding investments in more than 20 currencies, including the Australian dollar, US dollar, the Japanese yen, and the Euro. Drawdowns from the RERF helped finance the government’s annual budget.

$215 million (2016 est.)

$203 million (2015 est.)

$187 million (2014 est.)

$174 million (2016 est.)

4.2% (2016 est.)

7.5% (2015 est.)

0.4% (2014 est.)

$1,900 (2016 est.)

$1,900 (2015 est.)

$1,800 (2014 est.)

copra, breadfruit, fish

fishing, handicrafts

1.1% (2012 est.)

39,000

30.6% (2010 est.)

6.1% (2005)

NA%

118.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

10.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

26.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

23.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

NA

1.9% (2016 est.)

0.6% (2015 est.)

$NA

$27 million (2016 est.)

$69 million (2015 est.)

$84.75 million (2013 est.)

$62.31 million (2012 est.)

fish, coconut products

Morocco 19.8%, Fiji 17.3%, Philippines 10.2%, US 10.1%, Vietnam 7.9%, Australia 4.2% (2016)

$182.2 million (2013 est.)

$172.5 million (2012 est.)

food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Australia 22.9%, NZ 20.9%, Fiji 14.1%, Singapore 10.5%, Japan 8.1%, China 6.9% (2016)

$7.479 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$13.6 million (2013 est.)

$14.1 million (2012 est.)

$NA

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.3442 (2016 est.)

1.3383 (2015 est.)

1.3291 (2014 est.)

1.1094 (2013 est.)

0.9695 (2012 est.)

24 million kWh (2015 est.)

22.32 million kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

8,000 kW (2015 est.)

62.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

37.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

509.6 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

58,450 Mt (2012 est.)

1 TV broadcast station that provides about 1 hour of local programming Monday-Friday; multi-channel TV packages provide access to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2009)

.ki

T3 (2016)

19 (2013)

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012)

no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force (2011)

Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ