*Kingman Reef, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by
Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
*Kingman Reef, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
*Kiribati, Geography
Location:
Oceania, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between
Hawaii and Australia
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
717 km2
land area:
717 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix
Islands
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,143 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Natural resources:
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
51%
meadows and pastures:
0% forest and woodland:
3%
other:
46%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; 20 of the 33
islands are inhabited
Note:
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, People
Population:
76,320 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.03% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
32.03 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
12.31 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
54.16 years
male:
52.56 years
female:
55.78 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.82 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective:
I-Kiribati
Ethnic divisions:
Micronesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day
Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)
Languages:
English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA% female:
NA%
Labor force:
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
*Kiribati, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form:
Kiribati
former:
Gilbert Islands
Digraph:
KR
Type:
republic
Capital:
Tarawa
Administrative divisions:
3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
note:
a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,
Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been
changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named
Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton,
Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,
Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from UK)
Constitution:
12 July 1979
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party,
Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka
TENTOA; Maneaba Party, Roniti TEIWAKI
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:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - Teatao
TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
House of Assembly:
last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party
NA
Executive branch:
president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal, High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA
(since 8 July 1991)