Introduction
Background
Kiribati is made up of three distinct island groups - the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands, and the Phoenix Islands. The first Austronesian voyagers arrived in the Gilbert Islands as early as 3000 B.C., but these islands were not widely settled until about A.D. 200 by Micronesians. Around 1300, Samoans and Tongans invaded the southern Gilbert Islands, bringing Polynesian cultural elements with them. Later arrivals by Fijians brought Melanesian elements to the Gilbert Islands, and extensive intermarriage between the Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian people led to the creation of what would become Gilbertese cultural traditions by the time Europeans spotted the islands in the 1600s. The Phoenix Islands and Line Islands were both visited by various Melanesian and Polynesian peoples, but their isolation and lack of natural resources meant that long-term settlements were not possible and both island groups were uninhabited by the time of European contact.
Kiribati experienced sustained European contact by the 1760s; all three island groups were named and charted by 1826. American whaling ships frequently passed through the islands, and the UK declared a protectorate over the Gilbert and nearby Ellice Islands in 1892 to block growing US influence. Phosphate-rich Banaba Island was annexed to the protectorate in 1900. In 1916, the protectorate became a colony, and some Line Islands were added in 1916 and 1919, with the final ones added in 1972. The Phoenix Islands were added to the colony in 1937, and the UK agreed to share jurisdiction of some of them with the US because of their strategic location for aviation. Japan occupied the northern Gilbert Islands in 1941; the islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943. The UK continued to rule the colony after World War II. The Ellice Islands became its own colony in 1974. The Gilbert Islands became fully self-governing in 1977 and independent in 1979 as Kiribati, the Gilbertese spelling of Gilberts. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Islands in a 1979 treaty of friendship.
In 1994, Kiribati adjusted the international date line to the east of the Line Islands, bringing all islands in the country to the same day and giving Kiribati the earliest time zone in the world. Kiribati is a leading climate change advocate. In 2012, Kiribati purchased a 22 sq km (8.5 sq mi) plot of land in Fiji for potential eventual resettlement of its population because of climate change.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Oceania, group of 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references
Oceania
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)
comparison ranking: total 186
Area - comparative
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: 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
highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish
Land use
agricultural land: 42% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 39.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 15% (2018 est.)
other: 43% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
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
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: Kiribati
Ethnic groups
I-Kiribati 95.78%, I-Kiribati/mixed 3.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)
Languages
Gilbertese, English (official)
Religions
Roman Catholic 58.9%, Kiribati Uniting Church 21.2%, Kiribati Protestant Church 8.4%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.1%, Baha'i 2.1%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 27.06% (male 15,906/female 15,314)
15-64 years: 67.77% (male 37,634/female 40,559)
65 years and over: 5.17% (2023 est.) (male 2,314/female 3,645)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 66.4
youth dependency ratio: 60.2
elderly dependency ratio: 6.2
potential support ratio: 16.1 (2021 est.)
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: 57.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
23.1 years (2009 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
Infant mortality rate
total: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 34.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.14 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 44
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.22 years (2023 est.)
male: 65.6 years
female: 70.97 years
comparison ranking: total population 187
Gross reproduction rate
1.06 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
33.5% (2018/19)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 97.2% of population
rural: 63.1% of population
total: 82% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.8% of population
rural: 36.9% of population
total: 18% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
11.6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Hospital bed density
1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 75.4% of population
rural: 45.4% of population
total: 62.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 24.6% of population
rural: 54.6% of population
total: 37.9% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 165
Tobacco use
total: 40.6% (2020 est.)
male: 53.9% (2020 est.)
female: 27.3% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 3
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
67.6% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 2.4%
women married by age 18: 18.4%
men married by age 18: 8.6% (2019 est.)
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 22.5% (2019 est.)
male: 21.2%
female: 24.6%
comparison ranking: total 72
Environment
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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Land use
agricultural land: 42% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 39.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 15% (2018 est.)
other: 43% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 57.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.07 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 35,724 tons (2016 est.)
Total renewable water resources
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
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
presidential republic
Capital
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone 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
etymology: in Kiribati creation mythology, "tarawa" was what the spider Nareau named the land to distinguish it from "karawa" (the sky) and "marawa" (the ocean)
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)
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 several times, last in 2018
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
Executive branch
chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU (since 19 June 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU (since 19 June 2019)
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 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%
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 originally scheduled to be held in two rounds on 7 and 15 April 2020 but rescheduled for 14 and 21 April (next to be held in 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party (second round) - NA; seats by party (second round) - TKB 22, BKM 22, 1 independent
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
Political parties and leaders
Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party or BKM [Tessie LAMBOURNE]
Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP [Taneti MAAMAU]
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018)
chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 867-3310
FAX: [1] (212) 867-3320
email address and website:
Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki
note - the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: 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
note: adopted 1979
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Economy
Economic overview
lower-middle income, Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; sizable remittances; key phosphate mining fund; tourism and fishing industries; public sector-dominated economy; recent withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum; ongoing constitutional crisis
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$249.64 million (2021 est.)
$245.951 million (2020 est.)
$247.304 million (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 219
Real GDP per capita
$1,900 (2021 est.)
$1,900 (2020 est.)
$2,000 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 213
GDP (official exchange rate)
$197 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-1.81% (2019 est.)
0.56% (2018 est.)
0.36% (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 226
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 23% (2016 est.)
industry: 7% (2016 est.)
services: 70% (2016 est.)
comparison rankings: services 70; industry 216; agriculture 37
Agricultural products
coconuts, roots/tubers, bananas, vegetables, taro, tropical fruit, poultry, pork, nuts, eggs
Industries
fishing, handicrafts
Labor force
39,000 (2010 est.)
note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers
comparison ranking: 198
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 15%
industry: 10%
services: 75% (2010)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 22.5% (2019 est.)
male: 21.2%
female: 24.6%
comparison ranking: total 72
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: $281 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: $205 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance
$20.251 million (2021 est.)
$71.279 million (2020 est.)
$86.818 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 72
Exports
$10.754 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$21.228 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$32.516 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 219
Exports - partners
Thailand 60%, Indonesia 11%, Philippines 10%, Japan 6%, South Korea 3% (2021)
Exports - commodities
skipjacks, tuna, fish fillets, ships, coconut oil, copra (2021)
Imports
$201.984 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$148.77 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$177.149 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 211
Imports - partners
China 23%, Taiwan 16%, Fiji 16%, Australia 12%, New Zealand 6% (2021)
Imports - commodities
fishing ships, beef, netting, poultry meat, rice, refined petroleum, sugar, refrigerators (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$0 (31 December 2017 est.)
$8.37 million (31 December 2010 est.)
comparison ranking: 196
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1.331 (2021 est.)
1.453 (2020 est.)
1.439 (2019 est.)
1.338 (2018 est.)
1.305 (2017 est.)
note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 92.8% (2020)
electrification - urban areas: 88.2% (2021)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 11,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 25.137 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.7 million kWh (2019 est.)
comparison rankings: imports 160; exports 146; installed generating capacity 207; transmission/distribution losses 203; consumption 205
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 84.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 15.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
76,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 76,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 210
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 10 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 222
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 54,527 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 206
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: generally good 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; launch of Kacific-1 in December 2019 will improve telecommunication for Kiribati (2020)
domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular approximately 42 per 100 subscriptions (2021)
international: country code - 686; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable system from Australia, 7 Pacific Ocean island countries to the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media
multi-channel TV packages provide access to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2017)
Internet users
total: 70,200 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 54% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 195
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 185 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 213
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 66,567 (2018)
Airports - with paved runways
4
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
15
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Merchant marine
total: 90 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 35, oil tanker 11, other 41
comparison ranking: total 97
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Kiribati Police and Prison Service (Ministry of Justice) (2023)
Military - note
defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Kiribati has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Kiribati's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none identified