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Compare Virgin Islands (2002) - Kiribati (2001)

Compare Virgin Islands (2002) z Kiribati (2001)

 Virgin Islands (2002)Kiribati (2001)
 Virgin IslandsKiribati
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas 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: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443)


65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
40.53% (male 19,322; female 18,833)

15-64 years:
56.27% (male 26,136; female 26,841)

65 years and over:
3.2% (male 1,291; female 1,726) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Airports 2 (2001) 21 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
total:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
17

914 to 1,523 m:
12

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total:
717 sq km

land:
717 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC four times the size of Washington, DC
Background During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. 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 15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 31.98 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues:
$33.3 million

expenditures:
$47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1996 est.)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Tarawa
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline 188 km 1,143 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 12 July 1979
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form:
Republic of Kiribati

conventional short form:
Kiribati

note:
pronounced kir-ih-bahss

former:
Gilbert Islands
Currency US dollar (USD) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.88 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $10 million (1999 est.)
Dependency status organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) 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 (1995), largely from UK and Japan
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment. A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national 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, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Performance in 2000 fell short of the 2.5% growth in 1999, which benefited from increased copra production and exceptionally large revenues from fishing licenses.
Electricity - consumption 948.6 million kWh (1999) 6.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (1999) 7 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups black 80%, white 15%, other 5%


note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4%
chief of state:
President Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up to eight other ministers

elections:
the House of Assembly 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 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NA November 2002); vice president appointed by the president

election results:
Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of vote - Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%
Exports $NA $6 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico Bangladesh, Australia, US, Hong Kong (1999)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September NA
Flag description white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel 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 - $1.8 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $76 million (2000 est.), supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture:
14%

industry:
7%

services:
79% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $850 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 1% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Geography - note important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean 20 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: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
total:
670 km (1996)

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports $NA $44 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico Australia, Fiji, Japan, NZ, China (1999)
Independence - 12 July 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 0.7% (1992 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics fishing, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 54 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 2% (1999 est.)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Labor force 48,356 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
51%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
3%

other:
46% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole English (official), I-Kiribati
Legal system based on US laws NA
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11, independents 14
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.43 years


male: 74.55 years


female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)
total population:
60.16 years

male:
57.25 years

female:
63.22 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, 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 Central America and the Caribbean Oceania
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT

ships by type:
passenger/cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US 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 Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun:
I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

adjective:
I-Kiribati
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes 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 sun, sand, sea, surf phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Maneaban Te Mauri Party [Teburoro TITO]; National Progressive Party [Teatao TEANNAKI]

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 NA NA
Population 123,498 (July 2002 est.) 94,149 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.04% (2002 est.) 2.31% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 107,000 (1997) 17,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Roman Catholic 54%, Protestant (Congregational) 30%, some Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of God (1996)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 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 (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

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

note:
Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Telephones - main lines in use 62,000 (1997) 2,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) NA
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Total fertility rate 2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.) 4.36 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Waterways none 5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands)
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