Country Guide • Kiribati

Flag of 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 NameRepublic of Kiribati
Area811km² (313mile²)
Population98,000
ContinentAustralia/Oceania
Population per mile²315
Capital CityTarawa
Religions48% Roman Catholic , 45% Protestant. There are also minorities groups of Seven Day Adventists and Baha'i
LanguageEnglish is the official language although the national language is I-Kiribati a Micronesian dialect
GovernmentRepublic
CurrencyAustralian Dollar
GDP$79 million - supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
GDP per Head$840
Natural ResourcesPhosphate although production was discontinued in 1979
Land UseArable Land .05%
AgricultureBananas, Breadfruit, Coconuts, Copra, Fish, Papaya, taro and sweet potatoes
IndustryClothing, Fish Processing, Food Processing, Handicrafts, Tourism
TourismKiribati 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 HazardsTyphoons 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 RisksDiarrhoeal diseases from unsafe drinking water, sporadic outbreaks of dengue fever
ClimateKiribati 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
TimeGMT/UTC+12 hours except as follows: Canton Island, Enderbury Island: GMT +13; Christmas Island: GMT +14
National DaysJuly 12
VisasTourist/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 EmbassyEmbassy Details

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