Country Guide • Kiribati
Kiribati (pronounced kee-ree-bus was formerly known as the Gilbert Islands). It consists of three groups of islands in the central Pacific: Kiribati (including Banaba, which was formerly Ocean Island), the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. The 33 islands, scattered across two million square miles of the central Pacific, are low-lying coral atolls with coastal lagoons. The exception is Banaba, which is a coral formation rising to 265ft. Coconut palms and pandanus trees comprise the main vegetation. There are no hills or streams throughout the group of islands and so water is obtained from storage tanks or wells.
Official Name | Republic of Kiribati |
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Area | 811km² (313mile²) |
Population | 98,000 |
Continent | Australia/Oceania |
Population per mile² | 315 |
Capital City | Tarawa |
Religions | 48% Roman Catholic , 45% Protestant. There are also minorities groups of Seven Day Adventists and Baha'i |
Language | English is the official language although the national language is I-Kiribati a Micronesian dialect |
Government | Republic |
Currency | Australian Dollar |
GDP | $79 million - supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.) |
GDP per Head | $840 |
Natural Resources | Phosphate although production was discontinued in 1979 |
Land Use | Arable Land .05% |
Agriculture | Bananas, Breadfruit, Coconuts, Copra, Fish, Papaya, taro and sweet potatoes |
Industry | Clothing, Fish Processing, Food Processing, Handicrafts, Tourism |
Tourism | Kiribati is generally a collection of coral atolls rather than dry land. But because of this the diving and game fishing available in most places is spectacular and its idyllic beaches are never far from anywhere if you want to escape |
Natural Hazards | Typhoons can occur any time, but usually November - March, occasional tornadoes and due to the low level of some of the islands it makes them very sensitive to changes in sea level |
Health Risks | Diarrhoeal diseases from unsafe drinking water, sporadic outbreaks of dengue fever |
Climate | Kiribati has a tropical maritime climate that is uniformly hot and humid, but cooled by sea breezes. From March - October the islands experience the NW trade winds and from October to March westerly gales and heavy rains prevail. Average annual rainfall varies from 118 inches in the northern Line Islands to 59 inches in the central Gilbert Islands to 28 inches in the southern Line Islands. Average daily temperatures range between 28°C and 32°C |
Time | GMT/UTC+12 hours except as follows: Canton Island, Enderbury Island: GMT +13; Christmas Island: GMT +14 |
National Days | July 12 |
Visas | Tourist/visitor entry visas (28 days) are not required from British, Canadina and New Zealand passport holders provided you hold a return/onward ticket and sufficient funds for the intended visit. Passport holders arriving for employment must obtain a visa in advance as do citizens of other countries from a Kiribati diplomatic mission |
British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
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