World Factbook
Kiribati
Republic of Kiribati
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three wavy horizontal white stripes to represent the Pacific Ocean meaning: the white stripes represent the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix island groups; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom
Capital
name
Tarawa
etymology
the name is said to derive from the I-Kiribati words te (the) and rawa (run), referring to a channel through a nearby reef
time zone note
Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14
time difference
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
1 21 N, 173 02 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
Constitution
history
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence)
amendment process
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
Country name
note
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former
Gilbert Islands
etymology
the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilbert," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788
local long form
Republic of Kiribati
local short form
Kiribati
conventional long form
Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form
Kiribati
Independence
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
Legal system
English common law supplemented by customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts
judge selection and term of office
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
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
chief of state
President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
election results
2024: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKP) 55%, Kaotitaake KOKORIA (independent) 42%, Bautaake BEIA (TKP) 3% 2020: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKP) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%
head of government
President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
most recent election date
25 October 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms) by simple-majority popular vote, after candidates are nominated from among House of Assembly members; vice president appointed by the president
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
National color(s)
red, white, blue, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Political parties
Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party or BKM Kiribati Moa Party or KMP Kamanoan Kiribati Party or KKP Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
45 (44 directly elected; 1 appointed)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
8/14/2024 to 8/19/2024
expected date of next election
August 2028
percentage of women in chamber
11.1%
National anthem(s)
title
"Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
history
adopted 1979
lyrics/music
Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
National symbol(s)
frigatebird
Administrative divisions
3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; there are no first-order administrative divisions, but the 6 districts are Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa, with 21 island councils on Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (212) 867-3320
chancery
685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 867-3310
chief of mission
Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
email address and website
Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki
Diplomatic representation from the US
note
Note : the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati but has announced its intention to open an embassy
chief of mission
Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Kiribati as well as Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
International organization participation
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, UNDP, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt