Kiribati

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The Republic of Kiribati is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The country's 33 atolls are scattered over 3800 km² near the equator. Its name is pronounced /kiribas/ and is a Micronesian transliteration of "Gilberts", the English name for the main group of islands: the former Gilbert Islands.
Republic of Kiribati

Image:Kiribati flag medium.png Image:Kiribaticoatofarms.jpg

(In Detail) (Full size)

National motto: 'Maaka te atua, karinea te uea; mataku i te atua, fakamamalu ki te tupu (I-Kiribati: Fear the God, respect the king)

image:LocationKiribati.png

Official language English

Capital Tarawa

President Anote Tong

Area
- Total
- % water Ranked 170th
811 kmÃÂÃÂ²
0%

Population
- Total (2001)
- Density Ranked 179th
98,5
131/kmÃÂÃÂ²

Independence July 12, 1979

Currency Australian dollar

Time zone UTC +12, +13, +14

National anthem Teirake Kaini Kiribati

Internet TLD .KI

Calling Code 686

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Districts
4 Geography
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Miscellaneous topics

8.1 External Links

History

Main article: History of Kiribati

Since 1892, the Gilbert Islands was a British protectorate together with the nearby Ellice Islands. They became a colony in 1916 and then autonomous in 1971.

In 1978, the Ellice Islands became the independent nation of Tuvalu, followed by Kiribati independence in 1979. With independence, the United States relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and all but 3 of the Line islands, which became part of Kiribati territory.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Kiribati

The parliament of Kiribati, called Maneaba ni Maungatabu is elected every four years, and consists of 36 representatives. The president is both head of state and head of government, and is called Beretitenti.

Each of the 21 inhabited islands has a local council that takes care of the daily affairs.

Districts

Main article: Districts of Kiribati

Kiribati is divided into 6 districts:

Banaba
Central Gilberts
Line Islands
Northern Gilberts
Southern Gilberts
Tarawa

Four of the districts (including Tarawa) lie in the Gilbert Islands, where most of the islands population lives. Only three of the Line Islands are inhabited, while the Phoenix Islands are uninhabited and have no representation. Banaba itself is sparsely inhabited, but the district also represents Banabans relocated to Rabi Island in the nation of Fiji.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Kiribati

Banaba: an isolated island between Nauru and the Gilbert Islands.
Gilbert Islands: 16 atolls located some 1500 km north of Fiji
Phoenix Islands: 8 atolls and coral islands located some 1800 km southeast of the Gilberts
Line Islands: 9 atoll and islands, located about 3300 km east of the Gilberts.

Three additional islands in the Line Islands are United States possessions.

Banaba is a raised-coral island that was once a rich source of phosphates, but is now mostly mined out. The rest of the land in Kiribati consists of the sand and reef rock islets of atolls or coral islands that rise but a few meters above sea level. The soil is thin and calcareous, making agriculture very difficult.

Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in the Line Islands is the world's largest atoll.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Kiribati

Kiribati has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence. 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. Foreign financial aid, largely from the United Kingdom and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Kiribati

While English is the official language, I-Kiribati, the native Micronesian language, is widely spoken. Christianity is the major religion in the country, although mixed with many practices of the indigenous religions.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Kiribati

Music of Kiribati

Miscellaneous topics

External Links

myMicronesia/Kiribati section
http://www.wysiwyg.co.nz/kiribati/

Pacific Islands

Other political units

Commonwealth of Nations