General background: The Gilbert
Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and
complete independence in 1979 under the new name of
Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely
inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty
of friendship with Kiribati.
Area comparative: Four times the size of Washington,
DC
Climate: Tropical; marine, hot and
humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
Mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs.
Population: 96,335 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Predominantly Micronesian with
some Polynesian.
Religions: Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant
(Congregational) 40%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim,
Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of God (1999).
Language: I-Kiribati, English (official)
Government type: Republic
Capital: Tarawa
Legal system: Not Available
Economic overview: A remote country of 33
scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national
resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits
were exhausted at the time of independence from the
UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk
of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated
widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained
by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure,
and remoteness from international markets. Tourism
provides more than one-fifth of GDP. The financial
sector is at an early stage of development as is the
expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial
aid, from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China,
is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50%
of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad
account for more than $5 million each year.
Communication/Telephone system: Kiribati is
being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications
Network, which should improve telephone service.
Places of interest: It is also blessed with
myriad reefs, billions of gaudy fish swarming over
the coral, and plenty of wrecks dating from World
War II. The atolls are scattered over the equator
so the weather is dependably warm, though often tempered
by cool breezes off the sea. Although there's not
much organized activity, it's not hard to find diving
and game fishing in most places.
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