Background: 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.

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 717 km²
Land: 717 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,143 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 51%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 3%
Other: 46%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; subject to occasional tornadoes

Geography
Note: 20 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

Population: 77,853 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 1.99% (1994 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Micronesian

Languages: English (official), Gilbertese

Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

Population growth rate: 1.99% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 31.64 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 12.31 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA

Infant mortality rate: 98.4 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 54.16 years
Male: 52.56 years
Female: 55.78 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.77 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy
Total population: NA%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
Conventional short form: former:Gilbert Islands

Government type: republic

Capital: Tarawa

Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Note: a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina

Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Constitution: 12 July 1979

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President (Beretitenti) Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991; Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991; election last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996; results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%

Legislative branch: Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands; no military force is maintained
House of Assembly Maneaba Ni Maungatabu: elections last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

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 ocean

Economy overview: The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1% in both 1989 and 1990.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.5% (1992 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $525 (1990 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 23% of GDP (including fishing; copra and fish contribute about 65% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food

Industries: fishing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.), accounts for less than 4% of GDP

Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Budget: revenues:$29.9 million

Fiscal year: NA

Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities: copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15%
Partners: Denmark, Fiji, US

Imports: $33.1 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Partners: Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991)

Debt external: $2 million (December 1989 est.)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 5,000 kW
Production: 13 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 190 kWh (1990)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $NA, NA% of GDP

Airports: 21
Usable: 20
With permanentsurface runways: 4
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 5

Waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands

Merchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT

Disputes international: none