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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

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

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.ki

Internet users [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

copra, breadfruit, fish

Budget [time series]

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

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

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

Current account balance [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

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

Ease of Doing Business Index scores [time series]

78.4 (2020)

Economic 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. 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish, coconut products

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$197 million (2017 est.)

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

$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 [time series]

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

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

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

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

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

1.1% (2012 est.)

Industries [time series]

fishing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

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

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

76.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Energy

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

58,850 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

26.97 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

73% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

11,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

29 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

420 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

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)

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

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% (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 [time series]

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 [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 [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: 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 [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]

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 [time series]

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 [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]

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

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 [time series]

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

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

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

14.9% (2009)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

10.8% (2017)

Death rate [time series]

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

Dependency ratios [time series]

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

Drinking water source [time series]

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

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [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]

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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 [time series]

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population [time series]

64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)

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

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

Median age [time series]

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

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

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

46% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population [time series]

111,796 (July 2020 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

1.09% (2020 est.)

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]

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

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]

2.25 children born/woman (2020 est.)

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

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

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

19 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

T3 (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

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

National air transport system [time series]

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 (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 670 km (2017)

Waterways [time series]

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