Kiribati

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 884 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 less than 1 (2018 est.)

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 country code

.ki

Internet users

total: 15,946 | percent of population: 14.58% (July 2018 est.)

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 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 46 per 100 subscriptions (2019) | 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) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 22 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 51,401 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46.48 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

copra, breadfruit, fish

Budget

revenues: 151.2 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 277.5 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-64.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

$18 million (2017 est.) | $35 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external

$40.9 million (2016 est.) | $32.3 million (2015 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores

78.4 (2020)

Economic 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. Although the number of seafarers employed declined due to changes in global shipping demands, remittances are expected to improve with more overseas temporary and seasonal work opportunities for Kiribati nationals. 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 road rehabilitation, water and sanitation projects, and renovations to the international airport, spurring some growth. Public debt increased from 23% of GDP at the end of 2015 to 25.8% in 2016. Kiribati is dependent on foreign aid, which was estimated to have contributed over 32.7% in 2016 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 $855.5 million in late July 2016. The RERF seeks to avoid exchange rate risk by holding investments in more than 20 currencies, including the Australian dollar, US dollar, the Japanese yen, and the Euro. Drawdowns from the RERF helped finance the government’s annual budget.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.31 (2017 est.) | 1.34 (2016 est.) | 1.34 (2015 est.) | 1.33 (2014 est.) | 1.11 (2013 est.) | note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender

Exports

$84.75 million (2013 est.) | $62.31 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, coconut products

Exports - partners

Philippines 50.8%, Malaysia 17.2%, US 11.4%, Bangladesh 5.8%, Fiji 5.4% (2017)

Fiscal year

NA

GDP (official exchange rate)

$197 million (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$227 million (2017 est.) | $220.2 million (2016 est.) | $217.7 million (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 23% (2016 est.) | industry: 7% (2016 est.) | services: 70% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2017 est.) | $2,000 (2016 est.) | $2,000 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP real growth rate

3.1% (2017 est.) | 1.1% (2016 est.) | 10.3% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports

$107.1 million (2016 est.) | $182.2 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports - partners

Australia 29.3%, Fiji 17.3%, NZ 10.7%, China 5.8%, US 5.8%, Singapore 5.1%, Japan 4.6%, Thailand 4.1% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

1.1% (2012 est.)

Industries

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2017 est.) | 1.9% (2016 est.)

Labor force

39,000 (2010 est.) | note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 15% | industry: 10% | services: 75% (2010)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

26.3% of GDP (2017 est.) | 22.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$0 (31 December 2017 est.) | $8.37 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

76.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

30.6% (2010 est.) | 6.1% (2005)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

58,850 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

26.97 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

73% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

11,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

29 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

420 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

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)

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

1,143 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 2 m | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m m

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, 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

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 42% (2011 est.) | arable land: 2.5% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 39.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 15% (2011 est.) | other: 43% (2011 est.)

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

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), coconuts (copra), fish

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

Terrain

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

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)

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: 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)

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

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 1995, 2013

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018) | chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400A, New York, NY 10017 | telephone: [1](212)867-3310 | FAX: [1](212)867-3320 | note - the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy

Executive branch

chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); 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 (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Kourabi NENEM (since 17 March 2016) | 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%.

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

presidential 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

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

Judicial branch

highest courts: 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

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) - NA

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; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (BKM) [Tessie LAMBOURNE] Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK or Pillars of Truth [Anote TONG] Kamaeuraoan Te I-Kiribati Party or KTK [Tetaua TAITAI] Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [Rimeta BENIAMINA] Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP [Taneti MAAMAU] | 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

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. Kiribati joined the UN in 1999 and has been an active participant in international efforts to combat climate change.

Military - note

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

Military and security forces

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.47% (male 16,223/female 15,604) | 15-24 years: 20.24% (male 11,171/female 11,459) | 25-54 years: 40.05% (male 21,530/female 23,249) | 55-64 years: 6.65% (male 3,350/female 4,084) | 65 years and over: 4.59% (male 2,004/female 3,122) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Kiribati Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Kiribati. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

20.5 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.9% (2009)

Current Health Expenditure

10.8% (2017)

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 67 | youth dependency ratio: 60 | elderly dependency ratio: 7 | potential support ratio: 14.2 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total: 71.6% of population | unimproved: total: 28.4% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

I-Kiribati 96.2%, I-Kiribati/mixed 1.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.8% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

total: 29.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 30.3 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.5 years | male: 65 years | female: 70.2 years (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea | vectorborne diseases: malaria

Major urban areas - population

64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality rate

92 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 25.7 years | male: 24.8 years | female: 26.6 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.1 years (2009 est.) | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

46% (2016)

Physicians density

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

111,796 (July 2020 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

Population growth rate

1.09% (2020 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 57.3%, Kiribati Uniting Church 31.3%, Mormon 5.3%, Baha'i 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, other 2.1% (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total: 61.1% of population | unimproved: total: 38.9% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years | male: 11 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: 0.97 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.25 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 17.1% | male: 22.2% | female: 7.4% (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 55.6% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Disputes - international

none

Airports

19 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T3 (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 89 | by type: bulk carrier 1general cargo 34, oil tanker 11, other 43 (2019)

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)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor

Roadways

total: 670 km (2017)

Waterways

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012)