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(opens in new window) 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. Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the
Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half
of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati
proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its
Gilbert Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line
Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International
Date Line 1 25 N, 173 00 E total: 811 sq
km tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated
by trade winds mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded
by extensive reefs lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m phosphate (production discontinued in
1979) arable land:
2.74% NA sq km typhoons can occur any time, but usually
November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands
make them very sensitive to changes in sea level 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 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
100,798 (July 2004 est.) predominantly Micronesian with some
Polynesian Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant
(Congregational) 40%, some Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day
Saints, and Church of God (1999) I-Kiribati, English (official)
republic Tarawa 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) 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. The
financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of
private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia,
New Zealand, and China is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of
GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than
$5 million each year. 7,870 economically active, not including
subsistence farmers (2001 est.) 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes,
vegetables; fish copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Japan 56.3%, South Korea 21.9%, Australia
6.3%, US 6.3% (2003 est.) foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel Australia 39.6%, Fiji 24.5%, New Zealand
7.5%, Japan 5.7%, South Korea 5.7% (2003 est.) Australian dollar (AUD) 4,500 (2002) 500 (2002) total: 670 km
5 km (small network of canals in Line
Islands) (2003) Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
total: 1
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT 20 (2003 est.) total: 3 total: 17 no regular military forces; Police Force
(carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police
posts are on all islands) Kiribati does not have military forces;
defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ |
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