Statistics Kiribati 
Kiribati in the World
Kiribati - Introduction 2016
top of pageBackground: 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.
Area
Total: 811 km²
Land: 811 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands Line Islands and Phoenix Islands - dispersed over about 3.5 million km²
Rank: 187
Comparative: four times the size of Washington DC
Elevation
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m: highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
Land use
Agricultural land: 42%
arable land: 2.5%
permanent crops: 39.5%
permanent pasture: 0%
permanent crops: 39.5%
permanent pasture: 0%
Forest: 15%
Other: 43%
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)
Kiribati - People 2016
top of pagePopulation: 106,925 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 192
Growth rate: 1.14% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 103
Below poverty line: NA%
Religions: Roman Catholic 55.8% Kempsville Presbyterian Church 33.5% Mormon 4.7% Baha'i 2.3% Seventh Day Adventist 2% other 1.5% none 0.2% unspecified 0.05% (2010 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 30.16%
15-24 years: 21.26%
25-54 years: 38.59%
55-64 years: 5.86%
65 years and over: 4.13% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 63%
Youth dependency ratio: 57%
Elderly dependency ratio: 6%
Potential support ratio: 16.6%
Urbanization
Urban population: 44.3% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change
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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Ozone Layer Protection Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male/female
55-64 years: 0.82 male/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male/female
Total population: 0.95 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 33.2 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 34.4 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 31.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 60
Drinking water source:
urban: 87.3% of population
rural: 50.6% of population
total: 66.9% of population
urban: 12.7% of population
rural: 49.4% of population
total: 33.1% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 50.6% of population
total: 66.9% of population
urban: 12.7% of population
rural: 49.4% of population
total: 33.1% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 51.2% of population
rural: 30.6% of population
total: 39.7% of population
urban: 48.8% of population
rural: 69.4% of population
total: 60.3% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 30.6% of population
total: 39.7% of population
urban: 48.8% of population
rural: 69.4% of population
total: 60.3% of population (2015 est.)
Kiribati - Government 2016
top of pageCountry 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
Etymology: the name is the local pronounciation of 'Gilberts' the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT who mapped many of the islands in 1788
Capital
Name: Tarawa
Geographic coordinates: 1 21 N 173 02 E
Time difference: UTC+12
Note: on 1 January 1995 Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory was in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction were on the other side of the International Date Line
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)
Constitution: The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915 The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence); amended 1995 2013 (2016)
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
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU ; 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 ; Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members; term is 4 years ; election last held on 13 January 2012 (next to be held in 2015); vice president appointed by the president
Election results: Taneti MAAMAU elected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU 60% Rimeta BENIAMINA 38.5% Taneti IOANE (BTK) 1.5%
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu
Elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first on 21 October 2011 and the second on 28 October 2011
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA other 2
Judicial branch
Highest court: High Court ; 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 ; 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 Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote TONG]
Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI]
Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA]
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
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 Makurita BAARO (since 21 May 2014); address: 800 Second Avenue Suite 400A New York NY 10,017; telephone: [1](212)867-3,310; FAX: [1](212)867-3,320
In the us note: there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
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 anthem
Name: 'Teirake kaini Kiribati'
Lyrics and music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
Note: adopted 1979
Kiribati - Economy 2016
top of pageEconomy 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 however remittances and the number of seafarers employed have declined since the global crisis. In 2013 fishing license revenues contributed close to half of government’s total revenue and total remittances from seafarers were equivalent to 6% of GDP.
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 the road rehabilitation water and sanitation projects and renovations to the international airport spurring some growth.
Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid which was estimated to have contributed over 43% in 2013 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 $668 million in 2013 equivalent to 381% of GDP. The RERF seeks to avoid exchange rate risk by holding investments in more than 20 currencies including the Australian dollar United States dollar the Japanese yen and the Euro. Drawdowns from the RERF helped finance the government’s annual budget
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 the road rehabilitation water and sanitation projects and renovations to the international airport spurring some growth.
Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid which was estimated to have contributed over 43% in 2013 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 $668 million in 2013 equivalent to 381% of GDP. The RERF seeks to avoid exchange rate risk by holding investments in more than 20 currencies including the Australian dollar United States dollar the Japanese yen and the Euro. Drawdowns from the RERF helped finance the government’s annual budget
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$203 million (2015 est.)
$194.8 million (2014 est.)
$190.3 million (2013 est.)
$194.8 million (2014 est.)
$190.3 million (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 220
Real gdp per capita:
$1800 (2015 est.)
$1700 (2014 est.)
$1700 (2013 est.)
$1700 (2014 est.)
$1700 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 209
Labor force: 39,000
Note: economically active not including subsistence farmers
Rank: 196
By occupation agriculture: 15%
By occupation industry: 10%
By occupation services: 75%
Budget
Revenues: $197.9 million
Expenditures: $179.9 million
Surplus or deficit: 11.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 4
Exports:
$84.75 million (2013 est.)
$62.31 million (2012 est.)
$62.31 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 196
Commodities: fish coconut products
Imports:
$182.2 million (2013 est.)
$172.5 million (2012 est.)
$172.5 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 209
Commodities: food machinery and equipment miscellaneous manufactured goods fuel
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.3291 (2015 est.)
1.1078 (2014 est.)
0.9695 (2013 est.)
0.9695 (2012 est.)
0.9695 (2011 est.)
1.3291 (2015 est.)
1.1078 (2014 est.)
0.9695 (2013 est.)
0.9695 (2012 est.)
0.9695 (2011 est.)
Note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender
Kiribati - Energy 2016
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 43,839
Access electrification total population: 59%
Access electrification urban areas: 77%
Access electrification rural areas: 45%
Production: 30 million kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 212
Consumption: 27.9 million kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 211
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 157
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 167
Installed generating capacity: 7,000 kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 212
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 15
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 121
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 180
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 188
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 153
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 147
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 209
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 152
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 197
Products consumption: 400 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 209
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 193
Products imports: 509.6 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 206
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 207
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 160
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 128
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 89
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 156
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 58,450 Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 209
Kiribati - Communication 2016
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1477
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1
Fixed lines rank: 200
Mobile cellular total: 41,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39
Mobile cellular rank: 211
Telephone system
General assessment: generally good quality national and international service
Domestic: wireline service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati ; connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999
International: country code - 686; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2015)
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)
Kiribati - Military 2016
top of pageKiribati - Transportation 2016
top of pageAirports: 19 (2013)
Rank: 138
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With unpaved runways total: 15
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5
Merchant marine
Total: 77
By type: bulk carrier 7 cargo 35 chemical tanker 6 passenger 1 passenger/cargo 1 petroleum tanker 12 refrigerated cargo 15
Foreign owned: 43 (2010)
Rank: 59
Kiribati - Transnational issues 2016
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