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Kiribati
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Kiribati Map of the central and western Pacific Ocean highlighting Kiribati and neighboring island nations and territories. The map shows political boundaries, major islands, and cities, including the Caroline Islands archipelago, with labeled countries such as Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, and others, as well as territories administered by the United States, New Zealand, France, and Australia. Map showing the location of Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean, outlined in orange, with nearby countries and islands labeled, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, Marshall Islands, and New Zealand. The capital, Bairiki, is marked within Kiribati's territory. Pandanus trees on Arorae, Kiribati Kiribati: Ethnic composition Kiribati: Religious affiliation Kiribati: Urban-rural Kiribati: Age breakdown Population-density map of Pacific island countries and territories, with darker shading indicating more people per square kilometer. Naoero is the most densely populated, while many larger island groups, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia, have lower densities. Kiribati: Major import sources
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Kiribati summary
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Kiribati: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Tony Whincup, Nareau’s Nation: A Portrait of the Gilbert Islands (1979), offers insights into modern life. Rosemary Grimble (ed.), Migrations, Myth, and Magic from the Gilbert Islands: Early Writings of Sir Arthur Grimble (2004; originally published 1972), gives an account of myth, legends, and traditions. Gerd Koch, The Material Culture of Kiribati (1986; originally published in German, 1965), is an anthropological study. Alaima Talu et al., Kiribati: Aspects of History (1979, reprinted 1984); and Peter McQuarrie, Conflict in Kiribati: A History of the Second World War (2000), include the perspective of Kiribati’s indigenous people. Albert F. Ellis, Ocean Island and Nauru: Their Story (1935), is an account by a New Zealander and discoverer of phosphate in the islands. Barrie Macdonald, Cinderellas of the Empire: Towards a History of Kiribati and Tuvalu (2001), is comprehensive. A useful guide is Norman Douglas and Ngaire Douglas (eds.), Pacific Islands Yearbook, 17th ed. (1994).

Sophie Foster

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Sophie Foster
    Journalist, Suva, Fiji.
  • Barrie K. Macdonald
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Added media. Oct 21, 2026
Modified link of Web site: Official Tourism Site of Kiribati. Aug 29, 2026
Country Profile: Deleted literacy rates. Aug 26, 2026
Add new Web site: BBC News - Kiribati country profile. Nov 26, 2025
Add new Web site: Australian National University - Open Research Repository - The Kiribati economy� performance and prospects (PDF). Jan 13, 2025
Add new Web site: CRW Flags - Flag of Kiribati. Jun 24, 2024
Add new Web site: CRW Flags - Flag of Kiribati. Jun 24, 2024
Add new Web site: Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Kiribati. Dec 29, 2023
Add new Web site: Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations - Situation Analysis and Agriculture Sector Overview. Aug 17, 2023
Add new Web site: Official Government Site of Kiribati. Jun 20, 2023
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Kiribati. Apr 27, 2023
Add new Web site: Michigan State University - GlobalEdge - Kiribati. Oct 06, 2022
Add new Web site: Interesting Facts for Kids - Interesting Kiribati Facts. Jan 20, 2019
Add new Web site: The Commonwealth - Kiribati. Jan 20, 2019
Country Profile: Expanded country profile. Apr 19, 2018
Corrected display issue. Apr 04, 2017
Add new Web site: World InfoZone - Kiribati. Dec 09, 2016
In People section, revised text regarding religious affiliation; in Economy section, revised text on major trade partners. May 13, 2016
Added locator map to the Introduction; in People and Economy sections, added data charts. May 13, 2016
Country Profile: Updated Head of state and government. Mar 11, 2016
Updated History for purchase of land in Fiji. May 08, 2015
Country Profile: Updated form of government. Apr 16, 2015
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Kiribati. Dec 20, 2012
Updated for Kiribati's future plans in the face of rising sea levels. Mar 09, 2012
Country Profile: Added name of head of state and head of government, along with urban-rural, life expectancy, literacy, and GNI per capita statistics. Feb 27, 2012
Add new Web site: Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Kiribati Island. Oct 03, 2011
Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of Kiribati. Jul 29, 2010
Country Profile: Updated area and population figures. Mar 12, 2010
Country Profile: Updated Official name. Oct 20, 2009
Added new Web site: National Geographic - Travel and Cultures - Kiribati. Apr 20, 2009
History updated. Dec 11, 2007
Article thoroughly revised. Dec 11, 2007
Bibliography revised and updated. Dec 11, 2007
Added new Web site: Library of Congress - Kiribati - Selected Internet Resources. Aug 08, 2006
Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Kiribati. Jul 24, 2006
Added new Web site: Travel Document Systems - Kiribati. Jul 21, 2006
Article revised. Aug 15, 2000
Article added to new online database. Jul 26, 1999
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