At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of Kiribati

Continent: Oceania

Area: 277 square miles (717 sq km)

Population: 94,149

Capital City: Tarawa

Largest City: Tarawa (25,154)

Unit of Money: Australian dollar

Major Languages: English (official), Gilbertese

Literacy: 98%

Land Use: 51% permanent crops, 3% forest, 46% other

Natural Resources: Phosphate

Government: Republic

Defense: No budget, Australia and New Zealand provide protection

The Place

Kiribati is a group of 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean located to the south of Hawaii. The islands cover about 2 million square miles (5 million sq km) of ocean. They measure about 2,400 miles (3,900 km) from east to west, and 1,300 miles (2,100 km) from north to south.

The islands are separated into three groups. There are 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba to the west. To the east lie 8 Line Islands. Between these two groups is the Phoenix chain, which also has 8 islands.

Almost all of the Kiribati islands were formed from coral reefs. Many are atolls, which are ring-shaped reefs with a lagoon in the center. Kiritimati—one of the Line Islands—measures 235 square miles (609 sq km) and is the largest atoll in the world. Most of the islands are lowlands, with elevations less than 13 feet (4 m) above sea level. Banaba has the highest elevation at 266 feet (81 m) above sea level.

The People

About one-third of the Kiribati population lives on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert chain. Most of these people are concentrated near the administrative center of Bairiki. To keep Tarawa from becoming overcrowded, the government set up a relocation program to help citizens settle on other islands. Within the last 15 years, many I-Kirbati have relocated to the Teraina and Tabuaeran islands in the Line group.

Almost 85% of I-Kiribati live in rural areas. Most live in small villages that consist of about 100 homes. These houses are made out of wood and leaves. Houses made out of cement blocks, however, are becoming more popular. There is also a church and a meeting house in each village. The church is the center of most village activities.

I-Kiribati live in large extended families. Many villagers depend on fishing for food and employment. They also grow bananas, sweet potatoes, and other crops. Life expectancy is 63 years.