Kiribati

Republic of Kiribati Ribaberiki Kiribati
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Te Mauri, Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa" "Health, Peace and Prosperity"
Anthem: Teirake Kaini Kiribati Stand up, Kiribati
Capital and largest city	South Tarawa
Official languages	English Gilbertese
Ethnic groups (2000)	98.8% Micronesian 1.2% others
Demonym	I-Kiribati
Government	Parliamentary republic
• President	Taneti Mamau
• Vice-President	Kourabi Nenem
Legislature	House of Assembly
Independence
• from the United Kingdom	12 July 1979
Area
• Total	811 km2 (313 sq mi) (186th)
Population
• 2010 estimate	103,500 (197th)
• 2015 census	110,136
• Density	136/km2 (352.2/sq mi) (73rd)
GDP (PPP)	2011 estimate
• Total	$599 million
• Per capita	$5,721
GDP (nominal)	2011 estimate
• Total	$167 million
• Per capita	$1,592
HDI (2013)	0.629 medium · 121st
Currency	Kiribati dollar Australian dollar (AUD)
Time zone	(UTC+12, +13, +14)
Drives on the	left
Calling code	+686
ISO 3166 code	KI
Internet TLD	.ki

Kiribati (pronounced "KiriBASS") is a country in the Pacific Ocean. It has 33 atolls, groups of tiny islands. The country is near the equator. Its capital is South Tarawa, on the Tarawa atoll.

Kiribati used to be called the Gilbert Islands. In 1892, the Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate with the Ellice Islands (nowadays known as Tuvalu), together called Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Kiribati became an independent republic in 1979.

Kiribati is one of the poorest nations in the Pacific Ocean. It has few natural resources. Tourism is an important industry.

Kiribati signed a "Treaty of Friendship and Territorial Sovereignty" (also called the "Treaty of Tarawa") with the United States in 1979. The USA gave up its claims to the islands of Canton, Enderbury, Hull, Birnie, Gardner, Phoenix, Sydney, McKean, Christmas, Caroline, Starbuck, Malden, Flint, and Vostok in that treaty. [1]

The official languages of Kiribati are English and Gilbertese.