Kiribati

Kiribati (/ˌkɪrɪˈbæs, -ˈbɑːti/) is an island country located on the Pacific Ocean. It has 33 atolls, groups of tiny islands. The country is near the equator. Its capital is South Tarawa, on the Tarawa atoll.

Republic of Kiribati
Ribaberiki Kiribati
Coat of arms
Motto: "Te Mauri, Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa"
"Health, Peace and Prosperity"
Anthem: Teirake Kaini Kiribati
Stand up, Kiribati
Capital
and largest city
South Tarawa[1]
1°28′N 173°2′E
Official languagesEnglish
Recognised national languagesGilbertese
Ethnic groups
(2000)
98.8% Micronesian
1.2% others
Demonym(s)I-Kiribati
GovernmentParliamentary republic
 President
Taneti Mamau[2]
 Vice-President
Teuea Toatu
LegislatureHouse of Assembly
Independence
 from the United Kingdom
12 July 1979
Area
 Total
811 km2 (313 sq mi) (186th)
Population
 2010 estimate
103,500 (197th)
 2015 census
110,136
 Density
136/km2 (352.2/sq mi) (73rd)
GDP (PPP)2011 estimate
 Total
$599 million[3]
 Per capita
$5,721[3]
GDP (nominal)2011 estimate
 Total
$167 million[3]
 Per capita
$1,592[3]
HDI (2013) 0.629
medium · 121st
CurrencyKiribati dollar
Australian dollar (AUD)
Time zoneUTC+12, +13, +14 (GMT+12 to +14)
Driving sideleft
Calling code+686
ISO 3166 codeKI
Internet TLD.ki

Kiribati used to be called the Gilbert Islands. In 1892, the Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate with the Ellice Islands (nowadays known as Tuvalu), together called Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Kiribati became an independent republic in 1979.

Tourism is an important industry.

Kiribati signed a "Treaty of Friendship and Territorial Sovereignty" (also called the "Treaty of Tarawa") with the United States in 1979. The USA gave up its claims to the islands of Canton, Enderbury, Hull, Birnie, Gardner, Phoenix, Sydney, McKean, Christmas, Caroline, Starbuck, Malden, Flint, and Vostok in that treaty.

The official languages of Kiribati are English and Gilbertese.

References

  1. "Kiribati government website". Government of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  2. "Taneti Mamau declared new Kiribati President". Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  3. "Kiribati". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 19 April 2012.

Other websites

Media related to Kiribati at Wikimedia Commons

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