Kiribati

Kiribati

Introduction

Background

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.

Geography

Location

Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator, as well as the International Date Line

the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 811 sq km
country comparison to the world: 187 land:811 sq km
water:0 sq km
note:includes three island groups – Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Area – comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

1,143 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

Climate

tropical

marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m

Natural resources

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use

arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops:47.95%
other:49.31% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

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

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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
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

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

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

Languages

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Religions

Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Baha’i 2.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% (2005 census)

Population

100,743 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.9% (male 17,385/female 16,750)
15-64 years:62.4% (male 30,598/female 32,259)
65 years and over:3.7% (male 1,461/female 2,290) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 22.5 years
male:21.7 years
female:23.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.249% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Birth rate

22.73 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Death rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Net migration rate

-2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Urbanization

urban population: 44% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

TARAWA (capital) 43,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.64 male(s)/female
total population:0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 145

Infant mortality rate

total: 38.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 64 male:40.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female:37.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.39 years
country comparison to the world: 170 male:62.03 years
female:66.88 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.78 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Health expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 175

Physicians density

0.297 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 138

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 77% of population
rural: 50% of population
total: 62% of population
unimproved:
urban: 23% of population
rural: 50% of population
total: 38% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 47% of population
rural: 22% of population
total: 33% of population
unimproved:
urban: 53% of population
rural: 78% of population
total: 67% of population (2000)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

50.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 4

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.3%
country comparison to the world: 95 male:11.8%
female:10% (2005)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form:Kiribati
local long form:Republic of Kiribati
local short form:Kiribati
note:pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former:Gilbert Islands

Government type

republic

Capital

name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates:1 19 N, 172 58 E
time difference:UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note:on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory was in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction were on the other side of the International Date Line

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 the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Constitution

12 July 1979

Legal system

English common law supplemented by customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete in a general election

president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for two more terms)

election last held on 17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)

vice president appointed by the president
election results:Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats

44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member – the attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders (representing Banaba Island)

members serve four-year terms)
elections:legislative elections were held in two rounds – the first round on 22 August 2007 and the second round on 30 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – NA, 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]

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

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

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 US ambassador to Fiji 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 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 frigate bird symbolizes authority and freedom

National symbol(s)

frigatebird

National anthem

name: “Teirake kaini Kiribati” (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music:Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
note:adopted 1979

Economy

Economy – overview

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Islands. 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 the EU, UK, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UN agencies, and Taiwan accounts for 20-25% 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 (purchasing power parity)

$618 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210 $606.7 million (2009 est.)
$611.3 million (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$147 million (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153 -0.7% (2009 est.)
-1.1% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136 $6,200 (2009 est.)
$6,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 8.9%
industry:24.2%
services:66.8% (2004)

Labor force

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 2.7%
industry:32%
services:65.3% (2000)

Unemployment rate

2% (1992 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures:$59.71 million (FY05)

Taxes and other revenues

37.8% of GDP (FY05)
country comparison to the world: 54

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% of GDP (FY05)
country comparison to the world: 92

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables

fish

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

22 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Electricity – consumption

20.46 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Oil – consumption

300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Oil – imports

284 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Current account balance

-$21 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Exports

$17 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Exports – commodities

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Imports

$62 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

Imports – commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Debt – external

$10 million (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
1.2137 (2007)
1.3285 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

19 (2010)
country comparison to the world:138

Airports – with paved runways

total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m:4 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 15
914 to 1,523 m:11
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Roadways

total: 670 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 189

Waterways

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 108

Merchant marine

total: 71
country comparison to the world: 61 by type:bulk carrier 6, cargo 32, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 15
foreign-owned:51 (China 28, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Singapore 11, South Korea 2, Taiwan 5, Turkey 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution)

Police Force (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 25,190 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 18,364
females age 16-49:20,302 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,132
female:1,120 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

NA

Military – note

Kiribati does not have military forces

defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Kiribati is a source country for girls subjected to sex trafficking

crew members on Korean and perhaps other foreign fishing vessels in Kiribati or in its territorial waters exploit prostituted children on board their vessels
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – Kiribati does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

however, it is making efforts to do so

the government does not define labor or sex trafficking offenses in Kiribati law, makes no efforts to proactively identify victims of trafficking or establish formal procedures for the identification of trafficking victims, nor does it refer these victims to protective services, investigate or prosecute any suspected trafficking offenders, or work with NGOs or international organizations to provide protective services to victims (2011)