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View Profile Kiribati KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1979 Population: 102,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 133 Official language: English Time: GMT plus 12–14 hrs Currency: Australian dollar Geography Area: 811 sq km Coastline: 1,140 km Capital: Tarawa Kiribati (pronounced ‘Kirabas’) spreads across south. There is little temperature variation: pop. 47,900 in 2010), Bonriki (Tarawa South, the central Pacific, intersected by the equator from an average 29°C in the southern 4,000) and Buariki (Tarawa North, 3,300). and formerly the International Date Line, with Gilberts to 27°C in the Line Islands, dropping Government offices are in Tarawa South at most other Commonwealth Pacific island by less than 1°C in the coolest months. Betio, Bairiki and Bikenibeu. Other populated countries lying to its south. Its 33 islands are Humidity is constant at 70–90 per cent. areas include Taburao (on the island of scattered across 5.2 million sq km of ocean. North-west trade winds blow March–October. Abaiang, 4,300), Temaraia (on Nonouti, There are three groups of islands: 17 Gilbert From November to April, there are occasional 3,000), Butaritari island (2,700) and Utiroa Islands (including Banaba), eight Line Islands heavy rains, and strong to gale force winds, (on Tabiteuea, 2,500). and eight Phoenix Islands. The north/south though Kiribati is outside the cyclone belt. Transport: There are some 670 km of all- extent is 2,050 km. Kiritimati (formerly Rainfall patterns vary considerably from year weather roads in urban Tarawa and Kiritimati. Christmas Island) is the world’s biggest coral to year; drought is a constant danger. Causeways and bridges link north and south atoll (388 sq km). Kiritimati in the east is In 1997, Kiritimati was devastated by El Niño, Tarawa, plus several other islands. Bairiki and about 3,780 km from Banaba (formerly which, according to scientists studying the Bikenibeu in south Tarawa are connected by Ocean Island) in the west. island, brought heavy rainfall, a half-metre causeways. Betio, the port area 3 km west of Time: GMT plus 12 hrs except for Kanton rise in sea level and extensive flooding. Some Bairiki, is connected to Bairiki by a causeway. Island and Enderbury Islands (GMT plus 13 40 per cent of the coral was killed and the 14 There are about 3,000 vehicles, nearly 75 per hrs – on the same day) and Kiritimati (GMT million bird population, reputed to be the cent of them motor cycles. plus 14 hrs). world’s richest, deserted the island. The principal port is at Betio Islet, Tarawa. Area: Total land area 811 sq km. Environment: The most significant International airports are at Bonriki on Tarawa Topography: Kiribati is composed of coral environmental issues are limited natural and at Kiritimati, and all inhabited islands atolls on a submerged volcanic chain, freshwater resources, and heavy pollution of have airports. Air Kiribati, the national airline, nowhere rising higher than two metres above the south Tarawa lagoon, due to population operates scheduled services to nearly all the sea level, except for Banaba, a coral outcrop, growth around the lagoon and traditional country’s outer islands, linking them with which rises to 80 metres. Most islands have practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit Tarawa. coastal lagoons. Some lagoons are large (up dumping. to 80 km long), and bounded to the east by Vegetation: Poor soil (composed of coral Society narrow strips of land. There are no hills or sand and rock fragments) limits vegetation- KEY FACTS 2013 streams. The UN’s 1989 report on the types and agricultural potential. Coconuts ‘greenhouse effect’ listed Kiribati as an cover most islands, except Banaba and some Population per sq km: 126 endangered country in the event of a rise in islands in the Phoenix and Line groups. Forest Life expectancy: 69 years sea level during the 21st century. covers 15 per cent of the land area and there was no significant loss of forest cover during Population: 102,000 (2013); the Phoenix In February 2005, massive waves breached 1990–2011. Islands and central and southern Line Islands sea walls, devastating some villages, are mostly uninhabited; 44 per cent of people destroying farmland and contaminating Wildlife: Many varieties of sea birds visit the live in urban areas; growth 1.6 per cent p.a. freshwater wells. islands, including terns, shearwaters and skuas. 1990–2013; birth rate 23 per 1,000 people Climate: Varies from maritime equatorial Main towns: The main centre and capital is (41 in 1970); life expectancy 69 years (49 in (central islands) to tropical in the north and Tarawa, comprising Bairiki (Tarawa South, 1970). The CommonwealTh YearbooK 2015 Kiribati The government’s resettlement programme, to call the outer islands. Internet connection GDP by sector (2013) which began in 1989, aimed to transfer is available on some of the islands. The main almost 5,000 people from the densely post office is in Bairiki, with branches in populated western atolls to the Line and Betio, Bikenibeu and the outer islands, Agriculture Phoenix Islands. Five of the Phoenix Islands including Kiritimati. 25.8% were designated for residential development For every 1,000 people there are 88 landlines, Industry 9.6% in 1995, especially for people from the 166 mobile phone subscriptions and 115 overcrowded island of South Tarawa. internet users (2013). Services 64.6% The people are mostly of Micronesian origin Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Women’s (98.8 per cent in 2000 census). There are also Day (March), Health Day (18 April), Polynesian and European-descended Independence (usually several days around 12 other product or sector has yet been able to minorities. July), Youth Day (7 August), Human Rights make up the lost revenue. The best prospects Language: I-Kiribati is the national language, Day (10 December), Christmas Day and for diversification of the economy lie in English is the official language though it is Boxing Day. The Independence celebrations marine resources. The country’s exclusive not generally used outside of the capital. continue for three days. economic zone of some 3.6 million sq km is among the largest in the world in relation to Religion: Mainly Christians (Roman Catholics Religious festivals whose dates vary from year its land area. After fishing licences, the next 55 per cent, Protestants 36 per cent, to year include Good Friday and Easter largest source of income is remittances from Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists; 2005 Monday. census). There is a small Baha’i minority. seamen employed on foreign – mainly German – ships. Health: Public spending on health was nine Economy A vital source of revenue is the Revenue per cent of GDP in 2012. Infant mortality was KEY FACTS 2013 45 per 1,000 live births in 2013. Tuberculosis Equalisation Reserve Fund, built up from past GNI: US$253m is a serious public health problem; there are phosphate taxation surpluses. It was worth regular outbreaks of dengue fever and GNI p.c.: US$2,620 about A$600 million in 2014. occasional cases of leprosy and typhoid. GDP growth: 1.5% p.a. 2009–13 There were some years when the economy Some 67 per cent of the population uses an was buoyant in the 1990s, growing five per Inflation: 0.5% p.a. 2009–13 improved drinking water source and 40 per cent in 1998 and 9.5 per cent in 1999, with cent have access to adequate sanitation Phosphate mining on Banaba by the British modest levels of inflation, but in the 2000s facilities (2012). Phosphate Commission accounted for 80 per growth was generally slower, when cent of exports and 50 per cent of Education: There are nine years of sustainable development became a key government revenue until the mines were compulsory education starting at the age of objective. This low-lying country faces exhausted in 1979, the year of six. Primary school comprises six years and numerous development challenges, not least independence. The loss of the phosphate secondary six, with two cycles each of three that 32 of 33 islands rise no higher than two industry caused a huge drop in GDP; no years. The school year starts in January. metres above sea level. The economy was in recession in 2009–10, when many countries Three organisations run by the Ministry of Real growth in GDP were caught in the world economic Labour and Human Resource Development downturn; but recovered in 2010 and offer vocational training: the Institute of % 3.0 % showed steady growth of two to three per Technology (established in 1970) in technical 2.5 cent p.a. in 2011–15. and administrative skills; the Fisheries Training 2.0 Centre (1989) in maritime, fishing and 1.5 language skills, for those who seek History employment on Japanese fishing vessels; and 1.0 g The present inhab ita nts are descended mainly the Marine Training Centre in merchant 0.5 from Samoan s wh o migrated to Kiribati at maritime skills. A training college for primary 0.0 some time between the 11th and 14th teachers and an extra-mural centre of the centuries. Traces of later contact with other -0.5 University of the South Pacific are located at Pacific Islanders and a Chinese influence -1.0 Tarawa. Kiribati is a partner in the regional 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 remain in the population and culture. Social University of the South Pacific, which has its structure was diverse, chiefs ruling in the main campus in Suva, Fiji, and a campus in northern islands and councils of elders having Tarawa, Kiribati, with some 3,000 students, Inflation authority in the south.
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