Geography

Physical geography

Kiribati (pronounced ‘Kirabas’) is made up of 33 coral atolls with a total landmass of 811 square kilometres (less than the area of Hobart at 1,357.3 square kilometres). The atolls are scattered over 3.5 million square kilometres across both sides of the equator. The atolls are grouped into three archipelagos: Gilbert Islands, Phoenix Islands and Line Islands. Kiritimati is the world’s biggest coral atoll at 388 square kilometres. With the highest point of 81 metres Banaba (Ocean Island) is a phosphate rock island.

Climate

The climate varies from maritime equatorial (central islands) to tropical in the north and south. There is little temperature variation with an average of 28 °C and a humidity of 70–90%. North-west trade winds blow between March and October. From November to April, there are occasional heavy rains, and strong to gale-force winds, though Kiribati is outside the cyclone belt. Rainfall patterns vary considerably from year to year and drought is a constant danger.

Environment

Kiribati is made up of mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs. Rises in sea level from severe storms, and climate change can cause extensive flooding and erosion and contamination of soil by salt.

The Phoenix Island group has one of the world’s largest intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems, which includes 500 fish species, 200 coral species, 18 marine mammal species and 44 bird species including many varieties of sea birds such as terns, shearwaters and skuas. The Phoenix Island group has World Heritage listing.

Population

Of the 33 Kiribati islands, 21 are inhabited. Most of the population lives in the Gilbert Island group. Since phosphate mining ceased on Banaba in 1979, it is only sparsely inhabited.

About 44% of the population lives in the capital Tarawa (43,000). The next largest town is Bairiki (3,524).

People

Culture and identity

The indigenous inhabitants of Kiribati are Micronesian. Intermarriage with Melanesians from Fiji and Polynesians from Tonga has led to a mixed society with most people following a similar culture.

Kiribati folk music is generally based around chanting, accompanied by body percussion or a wooden box. Dances often feature outstretched arms and sudden birdlike movements of the head.

Health

The average life expectancy in Kiribati is 65 years of age (female: 68 and male: 63). Infant mortality is 35 deaths to every 1,000 live births.

Around 66% of the population use an improved drinking water source and 39% has adequate sanitation facilities. Tuberculosis is a serious public health problem, and there are regular outbreaks of dengue fever and occasional cases of leprosy and typhoid.

Religion and beliefs

The population of Kiribati is largely Christian, with Catholics making up 55% and Protestants 35%.

Food and shelter

Fish and taro, cooked in coconut cream, is the staple diet in Kiribati. Coconut, banana, papaya, pandanus and breadfruit are the main fruits. Infertile soils limit food production.

The people of Kiribati mostly live in villages on the outer islands, with populations between 50 and 3,000. Most houses are made of materials obtained from coconut and pandanus trees – the trunks used for structure, coconut fibre for binding and palm leaves for thatch. Today, new buildings are often a combination of traditional and contemporary architecture.

Economy

Wealth and poverty

Careful management of the trust fund based on phosphate mining (which ceased in 1979) has helped cushion the impact of the loss of this major source of income. Kiribati is now heavily dependent on income from fishing licences and remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad, as well as aid from the international community.

Education and work

Schooling is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14. Most children receive a primary education, but post-primary facilities are limited. Only about 34% of students attend secondary school (girls: 38% and boys: 32%). A branch of the University of the South Pacific (based in Fiji) is located on South Tarawa, and some students also study in New Zealand and Australia.

Most islanders make a living by fishing, growing their own food, and raising small livestock. In 2010, 2.7% of those in the workforce were employed in agriculture, 32% in industry and 65% in services.

Industries and products

Kiribati has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra (the dried ‘meat’ of the coconut which can be used to make oil) and fish now represent the bulk of production, industry and exports.

Agricultural products include copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. Industries include fishing and handicrafts.

Trade

Kiribati’s exports include copra, coconuts, seaweed and fish. Imports include foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, and fuel.

Government

Kiribati is a democratic republic within the Commonwealth. It achieved independence from Great Britain on 12 July 1979. President Anote Tong of the ruling Boutokaan te Koaua (Pillars of Truth) party was re-elected for a third term as president in January 2012.

Achievements and challenges

Kiribati is a safe and politically stable country. As a small and isolated nation Kiribati is constrained in its opportunities for economic growth and is highly vulnerable to changes in fuel and food prices and fluctuations in fish stocks, appreciation of the Australian dollar and the stock market.

Kiribati is facing a rapid rise in population, which will worsen economic, environment and health problems. The government is implementing programs to improve skills to enable the population to seek employment overseas.

The most significant environmental issues are limited natural freshwater resources and heavy pollution of the south Tarawa lagoon, due to population growth around the lagoon and traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping.

Like many of the Pacific Islands, Kiribati is extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels. The government is committed to adapting to the changes in climate and ensuring the future of the population.

Compared to other countries in the region, Kiribati’s progress towards the Millennium Development Goals is slow.

Links with Australia

Australia and Kiribati enjoy close and longstanding relations. Australia is the major supplier of tobacco, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and services to Kiribati. Australian exports to Kiribati in 2012-13 totalled AUD20.7 million.

Australian currency is used as the currency of exchange in Kiribati.

Australian aid focuses on improving basic education, developing workforce skills, building economic growth and management and strengthening infrastructure in the country. Australia also provides support to the areas of climate change adaptation, health, disability, gender and fisheries.