Location:
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Area:
total:811 sq km
land:811 sq km
water:0 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, and Phoenix Islands - dispersed over about 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mi)
country comparison to the world:187
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12nm
exclusive economic zone:200nm
Climate:
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation:
mean elevation:2 m
elevation extremes:0 mlowest point: Pacific Ocean
81 highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba
Natural resources:
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish
Land use:
agricultural land:42%(2011 est.)
arable land:2.5%(2011 est.)/permanent crops:39.5%(2011 est.)/permanent pasture:0%(2011 est.)
forest:15%(2011 est.)
other:43%(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
Population distribution:
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
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 overcrowding mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk; potential for water shortages, disease; coastal erosion
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)
Population:
109,367(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:191
Nationality:
noun:I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective:I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups:
I-Kiribati 96.2%, I-Kiribati/mixed 1.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.8%(2015 est.)
Languages:
I-Kiribati, English(official)
Religions:
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.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:29.27%(male 16,316 /female 15,693)
15-24 years:20.74%(male 11,213 /female 11,466)
25-54 years:39.43%(male 20,756 /female 22,363)
55-64 years:6.23%(male 3,071 /female 3,747)
65 years and over:4.34%(male 1,863 /female 2,879)(2018 est.)
population pyramid: Australia - Oceania
:: KiribatiPrint This is the population pyramid for Kiribati. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:63(2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:57(2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:6(2015 est.)
potential support ratio:16.6(2015 est.)
Median age:
Population growth rate:
1.12%(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:96
Birth rate:
21 births/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:75
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:129
Net migration rate:
-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:174
Population distribution:
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
Urbanization:
urban population:54.1% of total population(2018)
rate of urbanization:3.19% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
64,000 TARAWA (capital)(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
15-24 years:0.99 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
25-54 years:0.93 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
55-64 years:0.82 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
65 years and over:0.65 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
total population:0.95 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
23.1 years(2009 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate:
90 deaths/100,000 live births(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:76
Infant mortality rate:
total:31.1 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
male:32.3 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
female:29.9 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:58
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:66.9 years(2018 est.)
male:64.3 years(2018 est.)
female:69.5 years(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:174
Total fertility rate:
2.34 children born/woman(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:86
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Health expenditures:
10.2% of GDP(2014)
country comparison to the world:24
Physicians density:
0.2 physicians/1,000 population(2013)
Hospital bed density:
1.9 beds/1,000 population(2015)
Drinking water source:
improved:urban:87.3% of population
rural:50.6% of population
total:66.9% of population
unimproved:urban:12.7% of population
rural:49.4% of population
total:33.1% of population(2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:urban:51.2% of population(2015 est.)
rural:30.6% of population(2015 est.)
total:39.7% of population(2015 est.)
unimproved:urban:48.8% of population(2015 est.)
rural:69.4% of population(2015 est.)
total:60.3% of population(2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
46%(2016)
country comparison to the world:9
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
14.9%(2009)
country comparison to the world:43
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:12 years(2008)
male:11 years(2008)
female:12 years(2008)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:54%(2010 est.)
male:47.6%(2010 est.)
female:61.8%(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:3
Country name:
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
Government type:
Capital:
name:Tarawa
geographic coordinates:1 21 N, 173 02 E
time difference:UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
note: Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14
Administrative divisions:
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)
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
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)(2017)
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(2017)
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
Citizenship:
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Judicial branch:
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
Executive branch:
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 9 March 2016 (next to be held in 2020); vice president appointed by the president
election results:Taneti MAAMAU elected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU 60%, Rimeta BENIAMINA (BTK) 38.6%, Taneti IOANE (BTK) 1.4%
Legislative branch:
description:unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two-rounds if needed; 1 member appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders - representing Banaba Island, and 1 ex officio member - the attorney general; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first on 30 December 2015 and the second on 7 January 2016 (next to be held in 2019)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BTK 26, KTK and MKP 19, other 2 (includes attorney general); composition - men 43, women 3, percent of women 6.5%
Political parties and leaders:
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
International organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Teburoro TITO (since 13 September 2017); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1](212)867-3310; FAX: [1](212)867-3320
note: 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 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
National symbol(s):
frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow
National anthem:
name:\"Teirake kaini Kiribati\" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music:Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
Economy - overview:
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. Although the number of seafarers employed declined due to changes in global shipping demands, remittances are expected to improve with more overseas temporary and seasonal work opportunities for Kiribati nationals.
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 23% of GDP at the end of 2015 to 25.8% in 2016.
Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid, which was estimated to have contributed over 32.7% in 2016 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 $855.5 million in late July 2016. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$227 million(2017 est.)
$220.2 million(2016 est.)
$217.7 million(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:219
GDP (official exchange rate):
$197 million(2017 est.)(2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1%(2017 est.)
1.1%(2016 est.)
10.3%(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:108
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000(2017 est.)
$2,000(2016 est.)
$2,000(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:210
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:23%(2016 est.)
industry:7%(2016 est.)
services:70%(2016 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Industries:
Industrial production growth rate:
1.1%(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:153
Labor force:
39,000(2010 est.)
note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers
country comparison to the world:198
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:15%
industry:10%
services:75%(2010)
Unemployment rate:
30.6%(2010 est.)
6.1%(2005)
country comparison to the world:209
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA
highest 10%:NA
Budget:
revenues:151.2 million(2017 est.)
expenditures:277.5 million(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
76.8% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:4
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-64.1% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:221
Public debt:
26.3% of GDP(2017 est.)
22.9% of GDP(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:172
Fiscal year:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4%(2017 est.)
1.9%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:24
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Current account balance:
$18 million(2017 est.)
$35 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:62
Exports:
$84.75 million(2013 est.)
$62.31 million(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:199
Exports - partners:
Philippines 50.8%, Malaysia 17.2%, US 11.4%, Bangladesh 5.8%, Fiji 5.4%(2017)
Exports - commodities:
Imports:
$107.1 million(2016 est.)
$182.2 million(2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:214
Imports - commodities:
food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners:
Australia 29.3%, Fiji 17.3%, NZ 10.7%, China 5.8%, US 5.8%, Singapore 5.1%, Japan 4.6%, Thailand 4.1%(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$0(31 December 2017 est.)
$8.37 million(31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:192
Debt - external:
$40.9 million(2016 est.)
$32.3 million(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:196
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.31(2017 est.)
1.34(2016 est.)
1.34(2015 est.)
1.33(2014 est.)
1.11(2013 est.)
note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender
Electricity access:
population without electricity:43,839(2012)
electrification - total population:59%(2012)
electrification - urban areas:77%(2012)
electrification - rural areas:45%(2012)
Electricity - production:
29 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:210
Electricity - consumption:
26.97 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:210
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:153
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:164
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
11,000 kW(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:209
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
73% of total installed capacity(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:99
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:181
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
27% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:25
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:154
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:146
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:146
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:151
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:160
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
400 bbl/day(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:211
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:167
Refined petroleum products - imports:
420 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:207
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:151
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:162
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:129
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:143
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:152
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
58,850 Mt(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:209
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:765(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:1(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:216
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:46,123(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:43(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:202
Telephone system:
general assessment:generally good quality national and international service; wireline service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; recently formed mobile network operator (MNO) is implementing the first phase of improvements with 3G and 4G upgrades on some islands; islands are connected to each other and the rest of the world via satellite(2017)
domestic: fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 43 per 100 subscriptions(2017)
international:country code - 686; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)(2016)
Broadcast media:
Internet country code:
Internet users:
total:14,649(July 2016 est.)
percent of population:13.7%(July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:209
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:76(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:less than 1(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:197