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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ki

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

41 (2009) country comparison to the world: 212

Internet users [time series]

2,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 209

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (may be inactive) (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: generally good quality national and international service domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999 international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

4,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 216

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 218

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (possibly inactive) (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $55.52 million expenditures: $59.71 million (FY05)

Current account balance [time series]

-$21 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Debt - external [time series]

$10 million (1999 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Islands. 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. Private sector initiatives and a financial sector are in the early stages of development. Foreign financial aid from the EU, UK, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UN agencies, and Taiwan accounts for 20-25% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust fund.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

13.02 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

14 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Exchange rates [time series]

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$17 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Exports - commodities [time series]

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$137 million (2008 est.)

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

$580.8 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 $561.7 million (2007 est.) $564.6 million (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 8.9% industry: 24.2% services: 66.8% (2004)

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

$5,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $5,200 (2007 est.) $5,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

3.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 -0.5% (2007 est.) 3.2% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$62 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Labor force [time series]

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32% services: 65.3% (2000)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - consumption [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Oil - imports [time series]

260.8 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

2% (1992 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 811 sq km country comparison to the world: 186 land: 811 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

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 [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, 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 [time series]

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.74% permanent crops: 47.95% other: 49.31% (2005)

Location [time series]

Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory was in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction were on the other side of the International Date Line

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Terrain [time series]

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Government

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]

name: Tarawa geographic coordinates: 1 19 N, 172 58 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

12 July 1979

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji 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 Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete in a general election; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the president election results: Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%

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 the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

English common law supplemented by local, customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders (representing Banaba Island); serve four-year terms) elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 22 August 2007 and the second round on 30 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

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

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG] 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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 26,377 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 18,129 females age 16-49: 20,643 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 1,264 female: 1,242 (2009 est.)

Military - note [time series]

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

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

no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Police Force (2009)

Military expenditures [time series]

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 37.6% (male 21,488/female 20,899) 15-64 years: 59% (male 32,871/female 33,690) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 1,656/female 2,246) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.2 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Death rate [time series]

7.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

17.8% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 1

Ethnic groups [time series]

Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 43.48 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 61 male: 48.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.22 years country comparison to the world: 174 male: 60.14 years female: 66.45 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

Median age [time series]

total: 20.8 years male: 20.3 years female: 21.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

NA (2009 est.)

Population [time series]

112,850 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Population growth rate [time series]

2.235% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, other (includes Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, Church of God) 8% (1999)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.04 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 44% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

19 (2009) country comparison to the world: 137

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 4 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 43 country comparison to the world: 76 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 14 foreign-owned: 31 (China 15, Hong Kong 4, South Korea 2, Singapore 4, Taiwan 5, Turkey 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Betio

Roadways [time series]

total: 670 km (2000) country comparison to the world: 189

Waterways [time series]

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007) country comparison to the world: 109