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General Information
Area 810.5 sq km (312.9 sq miles). Population 87,400 (official estimate 2002). Population Density 104.2 per sq km. Capital South Tarawa atoll (including Bairiki, the capital town). Population: 36,717,000 (2000). Geography Kiribati (pronounced ‘Kiribass’, formerly the Gilbert Islands) consists of three groups in the central Pacific: Kiribati (including Banaba, formerly Ocean Island), the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. The 33 islands, scattered across 2 million square miles of the central Pacific, are low-lying coral atolls with coastal lagoons. The exception is Banaba, which is a coral formation rising to 80m (265ft). The soil is generally poor, apart from Banaba, and rainfall is variable. Coconut palms and pandanus trees comprise the main vegetation. There are no hills or streams throughout the group. Water is obtained from storage tanks or wells. Government Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1979. Head of State and Government: President Anote Tong since July 2003. Language Kiribati and English. Religion Christianity (53.4 per cent Roman Catholic and 39.2 per cent Kiribati Protestant), the Bahai Faith and Islam. Time GMT + 12, except as follows: Canton Island, Enderbury Island GMT +13; Christmas Island GMT +14. Electricity 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications The Government provides radio and postal services to all inhabited islands. Telephone Country code: 686. Outgoing international code: 0. Most international calls from Kiribati have to go through the operator. IDD is available throughout urban Tarawa. Radio telephone calls can be arranged to most outer islands. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network in use. Network provider is Telecom Services Kiribati Ltd (website: www.tskl.net.ki). Fax This is available at the local Telecoms Office. Telegram Available in Betio Mon-Fri 0800-1900 and on outer islands Mon-Fri 0800-1600. Telegrams may take several days to reach Europe. Internet ISPs include VPM Internet Services. There are currently no Internet cafes in Kiribati. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to two weeks. There is a weekly postal service for overseas mail. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500. Press The weekly papers are Kiribati Newstar and Te Uekera, published in English and Kiribati. Kiribati Business Link is published in English. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
