Kiribati

Full name of country: Republic of Kiribati

Region: Australia-Oceania

Official language: English

Population: 116,545 (2024 est.)

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

Land area: 811 sq km (313 sq miles)

Capital: Tarawa

National anthem: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati), by Urium Tamuera Ioteba

National holiday: Independence Day, July 12 (1979)

Population growth: 1% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +12

Flag: Kiribati’s elaborate flag design consists of a seventeen-rayed golden sun rising from waves over a dark red field (or background). Above the rising sun (which is half concealed beneath the waves) is a golden frigate bird in flight. The flag’s lower half is dark blue, and consists of three horizontal wavy stripes of white, representing the three island groups. Concepts symbolized by the flag include power, freedom, and Kiribati culture.

Motto: “Te Mauri, Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa” (Health, Peace, and Prosperity)

Independence: July 12, 1979 (from the UK)

Government type: republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: English common law supplemented by customary law

The Republic of Kiribati is a combination of three island groups (the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands, and the Line Islands) located in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Comprised of thirty-three coral atolls and one island, the country covers an ocean area roughly equal to the size of the continental United States. More than twenty of the islands are inhabited.

The name Kiribati (pronounced "keer-ree-bahss") is a corruption of the English name, the Gilberts. A democratic republic, Kiribati gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. It is one of the poorest countries in Oceania.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

The people of Kiribati, known as I-Kiribati, are overwhelmingly of Micronesian ethnicity. Ethnic I-Kiribati made up about 95.7 percent of the population, and people of mixed I-Kiribati descent made up another 3.8 percent (2020 estimates). Tuvaluans accounted for just 0.2 percent of the population.

While English is the official language, te taetae ni Kiribati (the Kiribati language, also known as Gilbertese) is widely spoken. The language is related to the Micronesian and Polynesian languages. Missionaries from Hawaii invented the written language, which uses the "ti" letter combination to make the "s" sound.

The vast majority of the population lives on the Gilbert Island chain. The capital, Tarawa, had a population of 64,000 in 2018, more than one-half of the country's total population. Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in Tarawa have led to government-sponsored relocation programs but continued high population growth has diluted the effects of relocation.

The population is young, with an estimated median age of 27.3 in 2024. Average life expectancy at birth is 68.5 years (2024 estimates).

Nearly 90 percent of the population practices some form of Christianity, which was introduced to the islands by missionaries during the nineteenth century. By 2020, the majority of people were Catholic (58.9 percent), followed by the Kiribati Uniting Church, a Protestant denomination (21.2 percent), the Church of Jesus Christ (5.6 percent), and Seventh Day Adventists (2.1 percent). There are also some adherents of the Baha'i faith, Jehovah's Witness, and Islam.

Kiribati's HDI value for 2022 is 0.628— which put the country in the Medium human development category—positioning it at 137 out of 193 countries and territories.

Indigenous People: The islands of Kiribati were first settled by Micronesian people as early as three thousand years ago. Later arrivals included Polynesian people from Fiji and Tonga. The modern population is comprised of these two ethnic groups.

The ancient inhabitants of Kiribati were warlike people, clad in armor made of coconut fiber and armed with shark-tooth swords. A seafaring people, it is believed that they traveled long distances in outrigger canoes.

Europeans began arriving in Kiribati during the sixteenth century, with the British claiming the islands in the late nineteenth century.

Education: Education is free and compulsory in Kiribati for nine years, beginning at age six. The system consists of six years of primary school, three years of lower secondary, and four years of upper secondary. Most of the islands' schools are run by missionaries. Qualified and experienced teachers are in short supply in Kiribati.

Advanced schooling is available at the Kiribati Institute of Technology and the Kiribati Teachers College. The Marine Training Centre Tarawa prepares students for service on international ships.

Health Care: Quality health care is scarce in Kiribati. Most medical care is provided by visiting medical groups from Australia. Medicines are in short supply. Diabetes, stroke, heart disease, tuberculosis, and lower respiratory infections are prevalent on the islands and are major causes of death. Kiribati's infant mortality rate is high, at 31.5 deaths per 1,000 live births (2024 estimate).

The population is malnourished due to a poor diet. Most homes have lacked toilets, so lagoons are often polluted with human waste; in 2020, 62.1 percent of the total population had access to improved sanitation facilities, up from under 40 percent several years prior. Kiribati’s increasing population threatens to overwhelm the country's slim resources, especially in Tarawa, where the population growth rate is significantly higher than the national average.

Food: The staples of the I-Kiribati diet are fish and rice. Most of the islands' food is imported. Canned goods such as corned beef are a large part of the diet, contributing to poor nutrition among the population. Other common foods are coconut, papaya, breadfruit, pumpkin, and taro root (called "te babai").

Te roro, a flat wafer made from the fruit of the pandanus (or screw-pine), is a delicacy in the southern islands. Te karewe ("sweet toddy") is a drink made from sap harvested from the coconut palm.

Arts & Entertainment: Unlike other Pacific island countries, Kiribati's traditional music exhibits little European influence, due to the relatively late colonization of the islands. Most music consists solely of vocal performance, and musical instruments are rarely used. Some I-Kiribati music is derived from religious songs learned from missionaries. Nearly every occasion has singing as part of the celebration.

Traditional I-Kiribati dances include the ruioa and the batere. In these dances, movement is concentrated in the hands, head, and eyes. Some believe that ruioa performers have special powers to bless or curse through their dancing.

The Twist (te Tuitit), a dance imported from the United States, became wildly popular in Kiribati. The music is usually modern techno-music.

Other traditional art forms include elaborate string figures, wooden baskets, and shell jewelry.

An important cultural institution is the maneaba, a communal meeting place that provides space for families to gather for town meetings, weddings, and funerals. During these gatherings, dancing, singing, and eating are enjoyed.

Sports, especially canoe racing, volleyball, and football (soccer), are popular in Kiribati. A soccer tournament takes place every year on New Year's Day.

Holidays: Kiribati celebrates its independence on July 12 with a parade in Tarawa. Kiribati obtained its independence from the British on that date in 1979. The country also observes New Year's Day in January, Women's Day in March, Health Day in April, Youth Day in August, Education Day in October, and Human Rights and Peace Day in December. The Christian holidays of Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, and Boxing Day are celebrated as well.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Kiribati consists of three island groups: the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands, and the Line Islands. In general, the country consists of coral atolls with extensive offshore reefs. White sand beaches and deep lagoons create a stunning landscape.

There are no rivers in Kiribati, but some islands have freshwater lagoons. Kiritimati (Christmas Island), the largest coral island in the world, accounts for 50 percent of the country's land mass.

The islands are all low-lying, making them exceptionally vulnerable to rising sea levels. Scientists have suggested that the islands of Kiribati may one day have to be abandoned before the sea covers them. The highest point in the country is on Banaba, at 81 meters (266 feet) above sea level.

Natural Resources: Historically, Kiribati's most important natural resource has been phosphate on the island of Banaba. However, these deposits have been depleted since 1979, leaving the country's economy in shambles.

The country's only other natural resource is the abundance of marine life found in the waters surrounding the islands. The fish in Kiribati's waters attract fishing vessels from other nations.

Environmental pollution is a concern in Kiribati. Much of the population lives in unsanitary conditions, and sewage is often released into lagoon waters.

Plants & Animals: The prevalent coconut palm not only provides food for the I-Kiribati, but is also the source of the country's main exports. Other common plants found on the islands include seaside scrub, banana trees, mangroves, and pandanus trees.

Wildlife is scarce on dry land in Kiribati. Common animals include the Polynesian rat, seabirds, and a few species of lizards. Millions of sooty terns migrate through Kiritimati each year. Other bird species typically spotted on the islands include tropic birds, boobies, frigate birds, and noddies.

Marine life is abundant around all the islands. Land crabs thrive on Kiritimati. Pacific bonefish, gray sharks, marlins, and stingrays also abound in the ocean surrounding Kiribati.

Climate: Kiribati's climate is tropical, with hot and humid conditions moderated to some extent by trade winds. The average year-round temperature is 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit). Southeast trade winds blow from March to November, and the wetter westerly winds blow through the rest of the year.

Annual rainfall totals range from 117 centimeters (45 inches) at Onotoa to 311 centimeters (120 inches) at Butaritari. The country also experiences typhoons on occasion. The islands' proximity to the equator brings a blindingly bright midday sun to Kiribati.

Kiribati authorities have increasingly emphasized the country's vulnerable position in terms of the effects of climate change and global warming; by the 2020s some parts of the country had experienced more frequent flooding and saltwater intrusion.

Economy

Kiribati remains among the poorest countries in Oceania. In 2023, the estimated gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) was US$423.549 million, or US$3,200 per capita. The economy relies heavily on aid from Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, and China; this aid has typically accounted for an estimated 30–35 percent of the government's finances.

Fees paid by fishing vessels from foreign countries and money sent home by I-Kiribati working in other countries are also economically significant. Out-of-country workers sending money home account for a good amount of household income; in 2023, personal remittances received accounted for 4.17 percent of the GDP, according to World Bank figures. However, the opportunities for seafarers declined considerably following the global financial crisis that began in 2008, so that one German ship-owning company that had employed 1,452 I-Kiribati in 2006 employed just 750 in 2015. The country's labor force is severely underemployed.

Development has been hampered by the lack of skilled workers and the country's remote location.

Industry: Industrial activity in Kiribati is light. Some companies make coconut oil products for export. Machinery and plastics also manufactured.

The country's chief exports are coconut and coconut products and fish (including aquarium fish).

Agriculture: The majority of Kiribati's population survives by subsistence farming. Only 2.5 percent of the islands' land is arable, and 39.5 percent given over to permanent crops, such as breadfruit, papaya, taro, pandanus, and coconut (2018 estimates). Bananas are grown on Butaritari, and there are coconut plantations on some of the uninhabited Line Islands. Seaweed is harvested to be made into emulsifiers and pharmaceuticals.

Tourism: Tourism contributed 12.5 percent of the country's GDP in 2022, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Most foreign tourists visit Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island).

The coral reefs surrounding the islands make Kiribati a popular destination for divers. Rusting landing craft that were beached during the US invasion of Tarawa in 1943, along with Japanese artillery, can be seen on Tarawa. Other favorite tourist activities include snorkeling and sport fishing.

Government

On Christmas Eve in 1777, British explorer Captain James Cook arrived at Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island. Captain Thomas Gilbert visited the islands in 1788 and named them the Gilbert Islands, after himself. The Gilbert Islands were annexed and declared a British protectorate in 1892; later that year, the Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu) were similarly annexed. In 1916, the status of the island group, now known as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, was changed from protectorate to Crown colony. The United Kingdom later added the Line Islands (1919) and the Phoenix Islands (1937) to the colony, although the United States contested these claims, citing a previous claim under the Guano Islands Act of 1856.

During World War II, the Japanese occupied Tarawa and other islands in the archipelago. In the Battle of Tarawa, US troops invaded and retook Tarawa in November 1943 in one of the bloodiest battles of the war in the Pacific. The Allied attack on Tarawa was the first large amphibious landing in World War II.

After World War II, the islands remained under British control as a single entity until 1975, when, in accordance with a referendum held the previous year, the Ellice Islands were separated from the Gilbert Islands and renamed Tuvalu, to be administered as a separate dependency. Tuvalu became a fully independent member of the British Commonwealth in 1978, and the Gilbert Islands followed suit on July 12, 1979, taking on the name Kiribati. In September of that year, the United States signed the Treaty of Tarawa, relinquishing to Kiribati its claim to most of the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands, save for a handful of uninhabited reefs and atolls.

Today, Kiribati is a democratic presidential republic. The president, called Beretitenti in the Kiribati language, is both chief of state and head of government. Candidates for president are nominated from among the legislature and then directly elected by popular vote. The legislative branch is the unicameral Maneaba ni Maungatabu (House of Assembly), with forty-six members; forty-four are directly elected by popular vote, one is appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders (to represent Banaba Island, which is part of Kiribati but is officially owned by citizens of Fiji's Rabi Island), and one seat is held by Kiribati's attorney general. The president is limited to three terms and can be removed from office by a majority vote of the Maneaba.

The court system consists of the High Court, which rules on constitutional issues; the Court of Appeal; and local magistrates' courts. Judges are appointed by the president.

The country is divided into three geographical units: the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands, and the Line Islands. Administratively, it is divided into six districts and twenty-one island councils, one for each of the inhabited islands.

The Republic of Kiribati is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.

Interesting Facts

• Kiribati has a higher sea-to-land ratio than any country in the world. It is also the world's largest atoll country.
• In January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that the International Date Line would be adjusted so that all of its territory would be in the same time zone. Prior to the change, the Phoenix and Line Islands were in a different time zone from the Gilbert Islands.
• Kiribati is among the least biodiverse lands in the world.

Bibliography

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Human Development Report 2022. United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2021-22pdf‗1.pdf. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

"Kiribati." The Commonwealth, thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/kiribati. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025..

"Kiribati." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/kiribati. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

"Kiribati." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 17 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kiribati/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025..

Kiribati: 2023 Annual Research: Key Highlights. World Travel and Tourism Council, 2023, assets-global.website-files.com/6329bc97af73223b575983ac/645a6a10ce67fdbdeda6a9c7‗Kiribati2023‗.pdf. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

Minahan, James B. Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific. ABC-CLIO, 2012.