Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form:
Kiribati
note:
pronounced kir-ih-bahss
former:
Gilbert Islands
Data code:
KR
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Tarawa
Administrative divisions:
3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
note:
in addition, 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)
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
12 July 1979
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice
President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994);
note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice
President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994);
note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of
Assembly, includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up
to eight other ministers
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note—the House of
Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and
then those candidates compete in a general election; election last held 27
November 1998 (next to be held by NA November 2002); vice president
appointed by the president
election results:
Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of vote—Teburoro TITO 52.3%,
Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected
by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent
Banaba; members serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2002)
election results:
percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14,
National Progressive Party 11, independents 14
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High
Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates'
courts, judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Party [Teatao TEANNAKI]; New Movement Party [leader
NA]; Liberal Party [Tewareka TENTOA]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party [Teburoro
TITO]
note:
there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati;
they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no
party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO,
UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate
in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall
Islands is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description:
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow
rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white
stripes to represent the ocean
