Kiribati

Government
Republic.

Geography
Kiribati, formerly the Gilbert Islands, consists of three widely separated main groups of southwest Pacific islands: the Gilberts on the equator, the Phoenix Islands to the east, and the Line Islands farther east. Ocean Island, producer of phosphates until it was mined out in 1981, is also included in the 2 million square miles of ocean. Most of the islands of Kiribati are low-lying coral atolls built on a submerged volcanic chain and encircled by reefs

Historical Background
The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.

Name

Republic of Kiribati

Capital

Tarawa[1]

Government

Parliamentary republic -  President Anote Tong

Area

Total 811 km2 (186th) 313 sq mi      

Population

2009 estimate 98,000[2] (197th) - 2005 census 92,533

GDP (PPP)

2009 estimate -  Total $602 million[3]

GDP (nominal)

2009 estimate -  Total $130 million[3]

Currency

Kiribati dollar Australian dollar (AUD)

Time zone

(UTC+12, +13, +14)