Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/128.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 10KB | 290 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\kiribat.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Kiribati"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Kiribati, click {z,"142.259121,-12.340252,176.303330,13.709764",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator and the
International Date Line, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 717 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 717 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} four times the size of Washington, DC
{3}note:{4} includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 1,143 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 0%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 51%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 3%
{3}other:{4} 46%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with
traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

{2}natural hazards:{4} typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional
tornadoes

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

{2}Geographic note:{4} 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of
the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French
Polynesia and Nauru


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 80,919 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} NA
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.89% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 27.13 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} NA male(s)/female

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 52.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 62.02 years
{3}male:{4} 60.25 years
{3}female:{4} 64.03 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 3.21 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} I-Kiribati

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Micronesian

{2}Religions:{4} Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist,
Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

{2}Languages:{4} English (official), Gilbertese

{2}Literacy:{4} NA


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Kiribati
{3}conventional short form:{4} Kiribati
{3}note:{4} pronounced kiribas
{3}former:{4} Gilbert Islands

{2}Type of government:{4} republic

{2}Capital:{4} Tarawa

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
{3}note:{4} in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts,
Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae,
Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti,
Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina; note - one council for each of the
inhabited islands)

{2}Independence:{4} 12 July 1979 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

{2}Constitution:{4} 12 July 1979

{2}Legal system:{4} NA

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
chief of state and head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October
1994) was elected by popular vote; note - the House of Assembly chooses the presidential
candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election;
election last held 30 September 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999); results - Teburoro TITO
51.2%, Tewareka TENTOA 18.3%, Roniti TEIWAKI 16.0%, Peter Taberannang TIMEON 14.5%;
Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994) was
appointed by the president
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the president from among the members of the House of
Assembly

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu): elections last held 22 July 1994 (next to be held
by NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total, 39 elected) Maneaban Te
Mauri 13, National Progressive Party 7, independents 19

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court,
judges at all levels are appointed by the president

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic
Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA;
Maneaban Te Mauri Party, Roniti TEIWAKI
{3}note:{4} there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely
resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms,
or party structures

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC,
IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4} Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4} the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

{2}Flag:{4} the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower
half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national
resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence
in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has
fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP growth has declined from about 10% in 1988 to about
2.6% in 1995. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak
infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The financial sector is at an early stage
of development. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to
GDP, equal in amount to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $68 million (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2.6% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $860 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 5.5% (1994 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $32.5 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $54.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} fishing, handicrafts

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 0.7% (1992 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 5,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 13 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 131 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

{2}Exports:{4} $6.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15%
{3}partners:{4} Denmark, Fiji, US

{2}Imports:{4} $38.6 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
{3}partners:{4} Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991)

{2}External debt:{4} $2 million (December 1989 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667
(1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} NA


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 640 km (1987 est.)
{3}paved:{4} NA km
{3}unpaved:{4} NA km

{2}Waterways:{4} small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands

{2}Ports:{4} Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,248 GRT/4,496 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 20
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 4
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 5
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 11 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 1,400 (1984 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 15,000 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 0 (1988 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 0 (1988 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and
paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} NA
{3}males fit for military service:{4} NA

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP