Kiribati

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Kiribati
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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    Kiribati
Location:
Definition Field Listing Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 811 sq km
land: 811 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing 0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 1,143 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops: 47.95%
other: 49.31% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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
   People    Kiribati
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 110,356 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 0-14 years: 37.9% (male 21,180/female 20,604)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 31,993/female 32,797)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,606/female 2,176) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 20.6 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 21.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 2.235% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 30.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 44.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 49.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 62.85 years
male: 59.79 years
female: 66.06 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, other (includes Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, Church of God) 8% (1999)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing I-Kiribati, English (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 17.8% of GDP (2002)
   Government    Kiribati
Country name:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 19 N, 172 58 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing 12 July 1979
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing NA
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing 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
election results: Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing 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); to 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:
Definition Field Listing Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing ACP, ADB, 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:
Definition Field Listing Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing 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 ocean
   Economy    Kiribati
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing 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 (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $348 million (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $67 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $3,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 24.2%
services: 66.8% (2004)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32%
services: 65.3% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2% official rate; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0.2% (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures: $59.71 million (FY05)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0.7% (1991 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8.37 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 220 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 216.4 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -$21 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $17 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing US 22.8%, Belgium 21.5%, Japan 14.3%, Samoa 7.8%, Australia 7.5%, Malaysia 6.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Denmark 4.6% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $62 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Australia 33%, Fiji 27.1%, Japan 18.1%, NZ 6.9% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $27.84 million largely from UK and Japan (2005)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $10 million (1999 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing Australian dollar (AUD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing NA
   Communications    Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 700 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (may be inactive) (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 1 (possibly inactive) (2002)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .ki
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 41 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Kiribati
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 19 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 670 km (2000)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 40 ships (1000 GRT or over) 135,041 GRT/184,399 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 16
foreign-owned: 31 (China 14, Hong Kong 3, Malaysia 1, Singapore 3, South Korea 2, Taiwan 7, Turkey 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Betio
   Military    Kiribati
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 26,377 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 17,577 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 1,247
female: 1,226 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
   Transnational Issues    Kiribati
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing none



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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