A state in the central, equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean (Oceania), located on the Gilbert Islands (16 islands and atolls), Phoenix (8), Line (8), and Banaba Island (formerly Ocean Island). Total area - 800 km². The capital is Bairiki on Tarawa Atoll (29,000). Administrative-territorial division - 6 districts. Population - 93,000 (2004), mainly Kiribati - Micronesians. The official language is English, but the entire population also speaks the Tungaru (Kiribati) language. Religion - Christianity (2/3 of believers are Protestants, mainly Congregationalists, the rest are Catholics). The currency is the Australian dollar.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on September 5, 1990).
National holiday - July 12 - Independence Day (1979).
Kiribati is a republic, a member of the Commonwealth led by Great Britain. According to the 1979 constitution, the head of state and government is the president (since July 2003 - Anote Tong), who is elected by the population for a 4-year term.
Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the House of Assembly, consisting of 42 deputies (40 of whom are elected by the population for a term of 4 years, 1 is appointed by the Council of the island of Abaiang, and the Attorney General - ex officio). Elected in May 2003.
Political parties: National Progressive Party (ruling), Christian Democratic Party, United Party of Kiribati.
There are 4 trade unions in the country, the most influential being the Kiribati Trade Union Congress.
The first European to visit the islands in 1606 was the Spanish navigator P. Quiros. In the 1760s-1780s, the islands were explored by the Englishmen D. Gilbert (1788), D. Byron, and D. Marshall. The name Gilbert Islands was given by the Russian navigator A. Krusenstern (Kiribati is the Micronesian variant of the pronunciation of the English name Gilbert). From 1892 to 1915, Kiribati, along with Tuvalu (Ellis Islands), was a protectorate and then a colony of Great Britain.
During World War II, they were occupied by Japan (1941-43). In the post-war period, the struggle of the population for political rights and independence repeatedly forced the British authorities to carry out reforms in the colonial administration system of Kiribati. Until 1972, the islands were governed by the British High Commissioner for Western Oceania (represented by a resident commissioner), then the post of colonial governor was introduced. On December 1, 1975, the Ellis Islands separated from Kiribati. On January 1, 1977, Kiribati was granted internal self-government. Independence was proclaimed on July 12, 1979.
Member of the UN, UNESCO, WHO, World Bank, IMF, PIF, SPC, participant in the Treaty of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (Rarotonga Treaty).
The economy is primarily based on fishing and agriculture. Crops include coconut palms, taro, bananas, and breadfruit. An important source of income is the funds received from licensing agreements with other countries for fishing in Kiribati's exclusive economic zone. Industry is represented by small artisanal enterprises producing palm oil, furniture, souvenirs, fish preservation, etc. Tourism is underdeveloped (1,500 tourists per year). GDP per capita - 750 Australian dollars.
There are paved roads on Tarawa Atoll (29 km). A total of about 2,000 vehicles are registered on the islands.
75% of export revenues come from copra. Imports include: food, fuel, industrial goods, and transportation equipment.
On Tarawa, there are a technical institute, a teacher training college, and a maritime school. A weekly newspaper "Te Uekera" is published (in English and Kiribati). There is a radio station "Radio Kiribati" and a government television service.
