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.

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

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Oceania

total: 811 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 811 sq km

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

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

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops: 50.68%
other: 46.58% (2001)

NA sq km

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

100,798 (July 2004 est.)

predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian

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

I-Kiribati, English (official)

republic

Tarawa

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)

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources. 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. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)

2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

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

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Japan 56.3%, South Korea 21.9%, Australia 6.3%, US 6.3% (2003 est.)

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Australia 39.6%, Fiji 24.5%, New Zealand 7.5%, Japan 5.7%, South Korea 5.7% (2003 est.)

Australian dollar (AUD)

4,500 (2002)

500 (2002)

total: 670 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003)

Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT
by type: passenger 1 (2003 est.)

20 (2003 est.)

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2003 est.)

total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.)

no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)

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