Kiribati Passport

[Country Name] The Republic of Kiribati.

The land area is 811 square kilometers, and the exclusive economic zone of the ocean covers 3.5 million square kilometers.

Population: 120000. More than 90% of them are Micronesian, while the rest are Polynesians and European immigrants. The official language is English, and Kiribati and English are commonly used. Most residents believe in Roman Catholicism and Kiribati Protestantism.

Tarawa, the capital, has a population of approximately 50000.

President Taneti Maamau was first elected in March 2016, re elected in June 2020, and re elected for the second time in October 2024.

Independence Day: July 12th.

【 Overview 】 Located in the central Pacific Ocean, it consists of 33 islands of various sizes (including 21 islands with permanent residents), belonging to the Gilbert, Phoenix, and Ryan Islands; It is the only country in the world that crosses the equator and crosses the International Date Line. It belongs to tropical marine climate. The average annual temperature is 32 ℃ and the average annual precipitation is 1600 millimeters.

3000 years ago, people from the Malay Polynesian language family settled there. Around the 14th century BC, Fijians and Tongans invaded and intermarried with the locals, forming the Kiribati ethnic group. In 1892, some islands of the Gilbert Islands and Ellis Islands became British "protected areas". In 1916, it was incorporated into the "British Gilbert and Ellis Islands Colony" (Ellis Islands were separated in 1975 and renamed Tuvalu). During World War II, it was occupied by Japan. Internal autonomy was implemented on January 1, 1977. On July 12, 1979, it gained independence and was renamed Kiribati.

The current constitution is based on the Gilbert Act of 1977 and officially came into effect after independence in 1979, hence it is also known as the "Independent Constitution". The Constitution stipulates that the President is nominated by the Parliament and elected by popular vote for a term of four years, with no more than three consecutive terms.

[Parliament] A unicameral system with a total of 45 seats, with members serving for four years. Except for one member appointed from Rabi Island, all other members are elected. Current Speaker Willie Tokataak.

The President is both the head of state and the head of government. The Cabinet is called the Ministerial Committee, which is nominated by the President from among the members of the ruling party.

There are a total of 23 administrative districts, each with a city hall responsible for the daily management of the island. The mayor and city councilors are elected without party affiliation, with a term of four years. Members of parliament and elderly representatives also attend the meeting as members of the city hall. The elderly representatives have a high level of influence in the city hall.

The judicial system consists of a high court and a local court. The High Court is composed of the Chief Justice and accompanying judges. Every year, Australian and New Zealand judges form the South Pacific Circuit Senior Judges to handle appeal cases in Fiji.

The main political parties include the ruling Tobwan Kiribati Party, TKP）， The leader is President Ma Mao. The Kamanoan Kiribati Party, an opposition party, KKP）， The leader is Tessie Lamborn. The opposition party, Kiribati First Party, KMP）， The leader is Banuila Berina.

[Important Person] Tanishi Mamao: President, leader of the Caring Kiribati Party. Born in September 1960. Graduated from the University of the South Pacific, the University of Sydney, and the University of Queensland, with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Economics degree. Formerly served as the Permanent Secretary of Kiribati Public Service Office, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Commerce. Elected as a member of parliament in 2007 and re elected until now. First elected president in March 2016, re elected in June 2020, and re elected for the second time in October 2024.

Kiribati has a backward economy and heavily relies on foreign aid, and is listed as one of the least developed countries by the United Nations. Most regions are self-sufficient primitive economies. Fishery resources are the main economic source. In recent years, the government has continuously expanded its sources of foreign exchange income, made efforts to achieve economic diversification, encouraged the development of small private enterprises, fisheries, small-scale processing and manufacturing industries, and coconut cultivation, resulting in the development of the commodity economy.

The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 280 million US dollars.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 2230 US dollars.

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: 4.2%.

Currency: No local currency. The common currency is the Australian dollar, and the Christmas Island region also uses the US dollar.

(Source: International Monetary Fund)

There are abundant fishery resources. Before 1979, Banaba Island produced phosphate, which was jointly mined by the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand and has now been depleted. There are mineral deposits such as manganese and nickel on the seabed near the coast.

Most of the land is covered by coral sand layers, and only a few crops such as coconuts, bananas, and breadfruit can grow. The annual production of dried coconut is about 11000 tons, of which about 10000 tons are exported, with a total output value of about 7 million Australian dollars. In recent years, due to the sluggish international market and dry weather, the production and export of coconut jerky have both declined significantly. There is no cultivation of grain crops and vegetables nationwide.

The fishery resources are abundant, mainly including tuna, snapper, skipjack tuna, and shrimp. In 2010, the Kiribati government, Fiji Golden Ocean Fisheries Company, and China Shanghai Ocean Fishing Company jointly established Kiribati Fisheries Limited, with its core business being tuna fishing and seafood export processing. In September 2012, the company spent $8 million to build a fish processing plant in the capital Tarawa. In 2023, the revenue from marine resources will reach AUD 214.3 million. At present, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, China Province of China each have dozens of fishing vessels fishing tuna in the waters of the base. The fishing license fees paid by these fishing vessels to the base government have become one of the main foreign exchange sources of the base government.

Kili utilizes its geographical advantage of crossing international date change lines to develop the tourism industry and enhance international visibility. Christmas Island, the largest circular coral island in the world, is home to world-renowned bird sanctuaries and diving sites. Every year, tourists from the United States, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand come here for sightseeing.

Transportation is mainly by sea, with Tarawa as the main sea and airport. Kiribati Shipping Company has a total of 10 passenger and cargo ships, operating passenger and freight services between islands. There are two international airports in the country, located in the capital Tarawa and Christmas Island, with 17 small airports on other small islands. Fiji Airways, Solomon Islands Airways, and Nauru Airways operate international routes from Tarawa to Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Nauru, respectively. Christmas Island also has flights operated by Fiji Airways to Nadi, Fiji and Hawaii, USA.

Implement the policy of "keeping expenditures within the limits of income and frugal finance" in finance and administration. In 1956, the Budget Balance Reserve Fund (RERF) was established, with the main source of funding coming from phosphate mining, to balance the national budget.

(1) Kiribati Bank: Established in 1984, it is a joint venture with Western Pacific Bank of Australia. In 2001, it changed to a joint venture with ANZ Bank, with a 49% stake and ANZ Bank holding a 51% stake.

(2) Kiribati Development Bank: Established in 1987, it is a national bank primarily providing loans to private enterprises.

Primary and junior high schools implement free education. The enrollment rate for children is 93%. There are about 90 public primary schools, 20 secondary schools (including private schools), six technical schools, and two secondary vocational schools (Kiribati Teachers College and Tarawa Technical College). There is also a training school for seafarers jointly run with Germans. Every year, we send about 170 international students and students for further studies abroad.

Kiribati has no military and only about 500 police officers. National defense is the responsibility of Australia and New Zealand.

Diplomacy emphasizes the maintenance of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposes foreign interference in internal affairs and the plundering of resources; As a country with low altitude islands and reefs, we attach great importance to climate change and call on the international community to take effective measures to help it cope with the negative impacts of climate change. Emphasize the development of foreign relations, especially friendly relations with countries in the South Pacific. We have established diplomatic relations with over 30 countries, but only have diplomatic missions in the United Nations Permanent Mission, Fiji, and China, and honorary consuls in a few countries.

Kiribati is a member of regional organizations such as the United Nations, Commonwealth, Pacific Community, Pacific Islands Forum and Forum Fisheries Agency, Pacific Islands Development Forum, Nauru Agreement, etc. It actively participates in relevant organizational activities and has close cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum.

Developed countries such as Australia and Japan provide large amounts of grants to the foundation every year to assist in infrastructure construction and technical cooperation projects such as education and training. Australia is the largest foreign aid recipient for the foundation, providing AUD 42.6 million in aid to the foundation in the 2022/2023 fiscal year (data source: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). The Australian aid mainly focuses on improving basic education, enhancing worker skills, strengthening economic governance, and improving infrastructure. New Zealand's assistance to Kiribati mainly focuses on the construction of Kiribati International Airport, skills training for workers, and sustainable urban development.

[Relations with Australia and New Zealand] Australia and New Zealand established their respective High Commissioner Offices in 1981 and 1989. In March 2012, Australian Governor Quentin Bryce visited Kiribati. In February 2013, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr visited Turkey. In December 2012, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully visited Key. In March 2015, Australian Foreign Minister Bishop visited Turkey. In June 2016, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully visited Key. In July 2017, Australian Minister for International Development and Pacific Affairs, Consta Ferravanti Wells, visited Keane. In February 2019, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Peters visited Kiev. In February 2023, Australian Foreign Minister Huang Yingxian visited Fiji.