Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
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 sq km
Environment:
current issues: 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
natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November
to March; occasional tornadoes
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note: 20 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
People ———
Population: 80,919 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.89% (1996 est.)