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Compare Christmas Island (2003) - Kiribati (2004)

Compare Christmas Island (2003) z Kiribati (2004)

 Christmas Island (2003)Kiribati (2004)
 Christmas IslandKiribati
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 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)
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 20,087; female 19,566)


15-64 years: 57.3% (male 28,523; female 29,280)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,434; female 1,908) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products NA copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Airports 1 (2002) 20 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 17


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 12


under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 811 sq km


land: 811 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC four times the size of Washington, DC
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. 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.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 30.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $28.4 million


expenditures: $37.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)
Capital The Settlement Tarawa
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline 80 km 1,143 km
Constitution NA 12 July 1979
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati


conventional short form: Kiribati


note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss


former: Gilbert Islands
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $NA $10 million (1999 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $15.5 million largely from UK and Japan (2001 est.)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003. A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China equals 25%-50% of GDP. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 6.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh 7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: NA%


hydro: NA%


nuclear: NA%


other: NA%
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Environment - current issues NA heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000), 1.55 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: 12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament


elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 4 July 2003 (next to be held not later than July 2007); vice president appointed by the president


election results: Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA 9.1%
Exports $NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners Australia, NZ Japan 75%, Australia 8.3%, US 8.3%, Philippines 4.2%, Thailand 4.2% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June NA
Flag description the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $79 million - supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 30%


industry: 7%


services: 63% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 1.5% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean 21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
total: 670 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports $NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners principally Australia Australia 41.7%, Fiji 26.7%, New Zealand 8.9%, Japan 5.9%, US 4% (2003)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 12 July 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 0.7% (1991 est.)
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) fishing, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
total: 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 55.04 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 44.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 2.5% (2001 est.)
International organization participation none ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Labor force NA 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
arable land: 2.74%


permanent crops: 50.68%


other: 46.58% (2001)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay I-Kiribati, English (official)
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law NA
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)


elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - the attorney general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other; members serve four-year terms)


elections: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; second round elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)


note: new legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
total population: 61.32 years


male: 58.34 years


female: 64.44 years (2004 est.)
Literacy NA definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line
Map references Southeast Asia Oceania
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 12 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT


by type: passenger 1 (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Military branches - no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA
National holiday NA Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)


adjective: I-Kiribati
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level
Natural resources phosphate, beaches phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders none Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]


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
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 433 (July 2003 est.) 100,798 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate -9% (2003 est.) 2.25% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1


note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines -
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of God (1999)
Sex ratio NA (2003 est.) at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)


note: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Telephones - main lines in use NA 4,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 500 (2002)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2003 est.) 4.24 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Waterways none 5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003)
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