Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

15,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1,400 (1984 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

0 (1988)

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $33.3 million expenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$7.2 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$15.5 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national 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. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, 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.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

7 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

7 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$6.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

copra 62%, seaweed, fish

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US, Australia, NZ (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$62 million (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 14% industry: 7% services: 79% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$800 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

1.9% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$37.4 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Australia 46%, Fiji, Japan, NZ, US (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.7% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-0.6% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 717 sq km land: 717 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,143 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: NA% permanent crops: 51% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 3% other: 46% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note--on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the country

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes

Natural resources [time series]

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Terrain [time series]

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Administrative divisions [time series]

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)

Capital [time series]

Tarawa

Constitution [time series]

12 July 1979

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss former: Gilbert Islands

Data code [time series]

KR

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up to eight other ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note--the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election; election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NA November 2002); vice president appointed by the president election results: Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of vote--Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

12 July 1979 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts, judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

NA

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11, independents 14

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National Progressive Party [Teatao 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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military - note (Military--note) [time series]

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

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

26.13 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Micronesian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

48.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Gilbertese

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 62.88 years male: 61.02 years female: 64.98 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

85,501 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.78% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

21 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 670 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 passenger-cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

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