Kiribati

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.ki

Internet hosts

327 (2012) country comparison to the world: 188

Internet users

7,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 204

Telephone system

general assessment: generally good quality national and international service domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999 international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

9,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 201

Telephones - mobile cellular

16,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 211

Agriculture - products

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Budget

revenues: $55.52 million expenditures: $107.1 million (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-29.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

Current account balance

$-35.01 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $-21 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$10 million (1999 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

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.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 0.97 (2011 est.) 1.09 (2010) 1.28 (2009) 1.21 (2008)

Exports

$7.066 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 214 $17 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Fiscal year

NA

GDP (official exchange rate)

$172.6 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$669 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 $651.2 million (2011 est.) $633.9 million (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 24.3% industry: 7.9% services: 67.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $6,200 (2011 est.) $6,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 2.7% (2011 est.) -0.5% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$80.09 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216 $62 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Labor force

7,870 country comparison to the world: 218 note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$8.37 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Unemployment rate

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

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

59,340 Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - consumption

23.25 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Electricity - production

25 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 155

Refined petroleum products - consumption

300 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Refined petroleum products - imports

420.2 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

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

Climate

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

Coastline

1,143 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Geographic coordinates

1 25 N, 173 00 E

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)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.47% permanent crops: 39.51% other: 58.02% (2011)

Location

Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Natural resources

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Terrain

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

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)

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: 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

Constitution

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US ambassador to Fiji, currently Ambassador Frankie A. REED, is accredited to Kiribati

Diplomatic representation in the US

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

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 theWorld Leaders website) elections: the House of Parliament nominates the presidential candidates from among its members following parliamentary elections 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 13 January 2012 (next to be held in 2015); vice president appointed by the president election results: Anote TONG 42.2%, Tetaua TAITAI 35%, Rimeta BENIAMINA 22.8%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

12 July 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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, WMO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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

Legal system

English common law supplemented by customary law

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 21 October 2011 and the second round on 28 October 2011 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

National symbol(s)

frigatebird

Political parties and leaders

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote TONG] Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI] Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA] 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

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 - note

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

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.3% (male 16,989/female 16,355) 15-24 years: 21.2% (male 10,985/female 10,950) 25-54 years: 37.2% (male 18,486/female 19,955) 55-64 years: 5.3% (male 2,515/female 3,004) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,572/female 2,437) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

22.18 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Contraceptive prevalence rate

22.3% (2009)

Death rate

7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56.2 % youth dependency ratio: 49.8 % elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 % potential support ratio: 15.5 (2013)

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 est.)

Education expenditures

11.6% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 4

Ethnic groups

Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

10.1% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 25

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 36.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 63 male: 37.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 35.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.11 years country comparison to the world: 173 male: 62.7 years female: 67.64 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

NA

Major urban areas - population

TARAWA (capital) 43,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 156

Median age

total: 23.2 years male: 22.4 years female: 24.1 years (2013 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-2.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

46% (2008) country comparison to the world: 8

Physicians density

0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

103,248 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Population growth rate

1.21% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Religions

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

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 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.63 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

none

Airports

19 (2013) country comparison to the world: 137

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 77 country comparison to the world: 58 by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 35, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 15 foreign-owned: 43 (China 26, Hong Kong 2, Russia 1, Singapore 9, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, Vietnam 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor

Roadways

total: 670 km (2011) country comparison to the world: 190

Waterways

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012) country comparison to the world: 108