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GOVERNMENT OF KIRIBATI
Kiribati (pronounced keer-ree-bahss) is a presidential republic. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Names of the Country: Official Name: Republic of Kiribati; conventional short form: Kiribati; local long form: Republic of Kiribati; local short form: Kiribati; Former name: Gilbert Islands. The name is the local pronunciation of "Gilberts," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788. keer-ree-bahss. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Capital: Tarawa: Geographic Coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Administrative Divisions: 3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; there are no first-order administrative divisions, but there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils: one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from the UK). National Holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
National Symbols of Kiribati
Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; the white stripes represent the three island groups: the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix Islands; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
National Symbols: frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow
National Anthem: name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati), lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA. It was adopted in 1979
Constitution and Legal System of Kiribati
Constitution: The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence). Amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly; amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legal System: English common law supplemented by customary law. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
International Law Organization Participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Citizenship: Citizenship by Birth: no; Citizenship by Descent Only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati; Dual Citizenship Recognized: no; Residency Requirement for Naturalization: 7 years. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch of Kiribati
Chief of State: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU (since 19 June 2019); The president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of Government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU (since 19 June 2019). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch Elections and Appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members; term is 4 years (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president
Results of the Last Presidential Election: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote: Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3 percent, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7 percent. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legislative Branch in Kiribati
Kiribati has a unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two-rounds if needed; 1 member appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders: representing Banaba Island, and 1 ex officio member: the attorney general; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: legislative elections originally scheduled to be held in two rounds on 7 and 15 April 2020 but rescheduled for 14 and 21 April (next to be held in 2024)
Results of the Last Legislative Election: percent of vote by party (second round): NA; seats by party (second round): TKB 22, BKM 22, 1 independent
Judicial Branch in Kiribati
Highest Court: High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president); the High Court has jurisdiction on constitutional issues
Judge Selection and Term of Office for the Highest Court: chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC); other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Subordinate Courts: Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts
Elections and Political Parties
Voting Age: 18 years of age; universal. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Political Parties: Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party or BKM ld by Tessie LAMBOURNE
Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP led by Taneti MAAMAU. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Results of the Last Presidential Election: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote: Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3 percent, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7 percent. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Government Spending, Taxes and Revenues
Government Budget: revenues: $281 million (2017 estimate)
expenditures: $205 million (2017 estimate)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-64.1 percent (of GDP) (2017 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 221. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Public Debt: 26.3 percent of GDP (2017 estimate)
22.9 percent of GDP (2016 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 177. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Taxes: 26.28 percent (of GDP) (2020 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 42. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military and International Relations of Kiribati
Military and Security Forces: no regular military forces; Kiribati Police and Prison Service (Ministry of Justice) (2023). defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Kiribati has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Kiribati's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)
International Organization That It Participates In: ABEDA, ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Image Sources:
Text Sources: CIA World Factbook, 2023; “Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Volume 2: Oceania,” edited by Terence E. Hays, 1991, Wikipedia, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, BBC, CNN, and various books, websites and other publications.
Last updated August 2023