Facts about Kiribati
Kiribati spreads the Gilbert, Phoenix and Line Islands across a vast area of the central Pacific. South Tarawa holds the capital, while Kiritimati lies thousands of kilometres farther east. Coral atolls, ocean navigation and life around the maneaba meeting house shape a country whose sea is far larger than its land.
- Capital
- South Tarawa
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD)
- Language
- Gilbertese (te taetae ni Kiribati) and English
Geography of Kiribati
Most of Kiribati's islands are low coral atolls, but Banaba is a raised island with a different geological history. The Gilbert group lies in the west, the Phoenix group in the centre and the Line Islands farther east. South Tarawa occupies a narrow, densely settled chain of islets beside a lagoon.
- Where is the capital of Kiribati?
- South Tarawa, in the Gilbert Islands. It is far west of Kiritimati and the other inhabited Line Islands.
History of Kiribati
I-Kiribati communities built their lives around fishing, navigation and atoll settlement before colonial rule. Britain administered the Gilbert and Ellice Islands together, but the groups separated before independence. Kiribati became independent in 1979. Phosphate mining on Banaba and the 1943 Battle of Tarawa left lasting scars on different islands.
- When did Kiribati become independent?
- Kiribati gained independence from Britain on 12 July 1979, after separating from the Ellice Islands, which became Tuvalu.
Languages of Kiribati
Gilbertese, also called te taetae ni Kiribati, is the principal local language, with English used in official and educational settings. Its spelling follows conventions unfamiliar to English readers: the letters ti can represent an s sound. Names such as Kiribati and Kiritimati preserve that written tradition rather than an English pronunciation.
- Why is Kiribati pronounced with an s sound?
- In Gilbertese spelling, ti can represent an s sound. The country’s name is therefore commonly pronounced roughly “Kiribas”.
Culture of Kiribati
The maneaba is a community meeting house where gatherings, discussion and ceremonies take place. Dance often uses controlled movements, extended arms and rhythms linked with collective singing. Canoe building, weaving and knowledge of the sea remain part of island heritage, with community ties connecting families across widely separated atolls.
- What is a maneaba?
- A traditional community meeting house, central to gatherings, discussion, ceremonies and the organisation of village life in Kiribati.
Economy of Kiribati
Tuna fishing access is an important source of national revenue, while copra links coconut-growing households with exports. Public services, remittances and development partnerships also support the economy. Limited land and long shipping distances make imports costly, and freshwater and coastal protection affect everyday livelihoods as much as national finances.
- Why is tuna important to Kiribati?
- The country has a large ocean area. Fees paid for access to its tuna fisheries are an important source of government income.
Politics of Kiribati
Kiribati is a republic whose president serves as both head of state and head of government. Parliament nominates presidential candidates, and voters choose among them. Island constituencies give distant communities a voice, while climate diplomacy, fisheries and the cost of providing services across the ocean are recurring national concerns.
- How is the president of Kiribati chosen?
- Parliament nominates candidates, then the public votes to choose the president, who heads both the state and the government.
Nature and wildlife of Kiribati
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area includes coral reefs, lagoons, seabird colonies and deep ocean habitats. Kiritimati has important bird populations and an extensive lagoon landscape. On inhabited atolls, thin soils and fragile freshwater lenses make environmental management inseparable from food production, drinking water and protection against saltwater intrusion.
- What is the Phoenix Islands Protected Area?
- A large Pacific marine protected area containing reefs, islands and deep-sea habitats, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Food of Kiribati
Fish, coconuts, breadfruit and pandanus are important local foods. Giant swamp taro, known as babai, is grown in pits where conditions allow. Imported rice and flour also enter meals. The balance between garden produce and seafood varies by island, rainfall and access to ships bringing supplies.
- What is babai?
- Giant swamp taro grown in cultivation pits in Kiribati. It is a valued traditional crop where freshwater and growing conditions permit.
Landmarks of Kiribati
Tarawa preserves Second World War relics from one of the Pacific campaign's fiercest battles. The Phoenix Islands form a UNESCO-listed marine landscape, while Kiritimati is known for its vast coral-atoll setting. Community maneaba and traditional canoe work offer another kind of landmark: places and skills still used in daily life.
- Is Kiritimati the same as Australia’s Christmas Island?
- No. Kiritimati is a coral atoll in Kiribati in the Pacific. Australia’s Christmas Island is in the Indian Ocean.
People and society of Kiribati
People from Kiribati are called I-Kiribati. Many live on South Tarawa, while outer-island communities maintain their own local ties and ways of living. Banaban history also reaches to Rabi in Fiji, where many Banabans were relocated. Work abroad and migration extend family networks beyond the country's scattered islands.
- What does I-Kiribati mean?
- It refers to a person or people from Kiribati, and is used for national identity across the country’s island groups.