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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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)

Internet country code [time series]

.ki

Internet users [time series]

total: 14,649 | percent of population: 13.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: generally good quality national and international service | domestic: wireline service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; recently formed Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Kiribati Limited is implementing the first phase of improvements with 3G and 4G upgrades on some islands | international: country code - 686; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 1,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 55,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

copra, breadfruit, fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $197.9 million | expenditures: $179.9 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

10.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3

Current account balance [time series]

$27 million (2016 est.) | $69 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Debt - external [time series]

$13.6 million (2013 est.) | $14.1 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

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 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 declined in the global crisis, but has since improved. 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 road rehabilitation, water and sanitation projects, and renovations to the international airport, spurring some growth. Public debt increased from less than 10% of GDP in 2014 to 23% of GDP at the end of 2015 due to the Bonriki International Airport repair and upgrade project financed by development partner concessional loans. | 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 $571 million (A$756 million) in 2015, equivalent to 344% of GDP. 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 [time series]

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.3442 (2016 est.) | 1.3383 (2015 est.) | 1.3291 (2014 est.) | 1.1094 (2013 est.) | 0.9695 (2012 est.) | note:: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender

Exports [time series]

$84.75 million (2013 est.) | $62.31 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish, coconut products

Exports - partners [time series]

Morocco 19.8%, Fiji 17.3%, Philippines 10.2%, US 10.1%, Vietnam 7.9%, Australia 4.2% (2016)

Fiscal year [time series]

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$174 million (2016 est.)

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

$215 million (2016 est.) | $203 million (2015 est.) | $187 million (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 220

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

agriculture: 26.3% | industry: 9.2% | services: 64.5% (2012 est.)

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

$1,900 (2016 est.) | $1,900 (2015 est.) | $1,800 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 211

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

4.2% (2016 est.) | 7.5% (2015 est.) | 0.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$182.2 million (2013 est.) | $172.5 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 22.9%, NZ 20.9%, Fiji 14.1%, Singapore 10.5%, Japan 8.1%, China 6.9% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Industries [time series]

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.9% (2016 est.) | 0.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Labor force [time series]

39,000 | note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

26.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 23.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$7.479 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

118.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2

Unemployment rate [time series]

30.6% (2010 est.) | 6.1% (2005) | country comparison to the world: 204

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

58,450 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - consumption [time series]

22.32 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

62.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

37.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

8,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

Electricity - production [time series]

24 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 43,839 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 77% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 157

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

400 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

509.6 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Geography

Area [time series]

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) | country comparison to the world: 187

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 [time series]

mean elevation: 2 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 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; Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)

Irrigated land [time series]

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

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), coconuts (copra), fish

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

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 [time series]

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

name: Tarawa | geographic coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E | time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | 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 are on the other side of the International Date Line

Citizenship [time series]

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 [time series]

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)

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 | 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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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 10017; telephone: [1](212)867-3310; FAX: [1](212)867-3320 | note: honorary consulate in Honolulu

Executive branch [time series]

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 9 March 2016 (next to be held in 2020); vice president appointed by the president | election results: Taneti MAAMAU elected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU 60%, Rimeta BENIAMINA (BTK) 38.6%, Taneti IOANE (BTK) 1.4%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

12 July 1979 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

highest court(s): 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 [time series]

English common law supplemented by customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 were held in two rounds - the first on 21 October 2011 and the second on 28 October 2011 (next to be held in 2015) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BTK 26, KTK and MKP 19, , other 2 (includes attorney general)

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati) | lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA | note: adopted 1979

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

National symbol(s) [time series]

frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow

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

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Anote TONG] | 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

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 and Security

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 (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force (2011)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.68% (male 16,360/female 15,734) | 15-24 years: 21.07% (male 11,282/female 11,503) | 25-54 years: 38.98% (male 20,300/female 21,860) | 55-64 years: 6.04% (male 2,942/female 3,590) | 65 years and over: 4.23% (male 1,802/female 2,772) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

14.9% (2009) | country comparison to the world: 48

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

22.3% (2009)

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 63 | youth dependency ratio: 57 | elderly dependency ratio: 6 | potential support ratio: 16.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

10.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 24

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 32.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 30.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Languages [time series]

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.5 years | male: 64 years | female: 69.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Major urban areas - population [time series]

TARAWA (capital) 46,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

90 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Median age [time series]

total: 24.6 years | male: 23.8 years | female: 25.5 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

46% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 9

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population [time series]

108,145 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

1.13% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

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

total: 12 years | male: 11 years | female: 12 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.39 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 54% | male: 47.6% | female: 61.8% (2010 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 44.6% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

19 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 138

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

T3 (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

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 (China 26, Hong Kong 2, Russia 1, Singapore 9, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, Vietnam 2) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 58

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 670 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 192

Waterways [time series]

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 107