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| / / Kiribati |
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| Countries of the World |
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| AREA |
810.5
sq km (312.9 sq miles). |
| POPULATION |
77,853 (1996). |
| POPULATION DENSITY |
96.1 per sq km. |
| CAPITAL |
South Tarawa. |
| CAPITAL
POPULATION |
29,028 (1990). |
| 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 two 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 Teburoro Tito since 1994. |
| LANGUAGE |
Kiribati and English. |
| RELIGION |
Christianity (50% Roman
Catholic), the Bahai Faith and Islam. |
| STANDARD
TIME |
GMT + 12, except as
follows: Canton Island, Enderbury Island:
GMT +13; Christmas Island: GMT +14. |
| ELECTRICITY |
240 volts AC, 50Hz. |
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