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Compare Virgin Islands (2008) - Kiribati (2003)

Compare Virgin Islands (2008) z Kiribati (2003)

 Virgin Islands (2008)Kiribati (2003)
 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: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696)


15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911)


65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 19,839; female 19,333)


15-64 years: 57% (male 27,705; female 28,438)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,385; female 1,849) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Airports 2 (2007) 20 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
total: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 16


914 to 1,523 m: 12


under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Area total: 1,910 sq km


land: 346 sq km


water: 1,564 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 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 13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 31.24 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
revenues: $28.4 million


expenditures: $37.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital name: Charlotte Amalie


geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Tarawa
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September 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


abbreviation: USVI
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati


conventional short form: Kiribati


note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss


former: Gilbert Islands
Currency - Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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 largely from UK and Japan (1995)
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment. 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 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.
Electricity - consumption 926.4 million kWh (2005) 6.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 996.1 million kWh (2005) 7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 475 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 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census) predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.84 (2002), 1.93 (2001), 1.72 (2000), 1.55 (1999), 1.59 (1998)
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 John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)


cabinet: NA


elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)


election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President NA; 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 NA; 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 397,400 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico (2006) Japan 56.7%, Thailand 16.6%, South Korea 16.3% (2002)
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 - $79 million - supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 30%


industry: 7%


services: 63% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) 1.5% (2001 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 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: 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 493,000 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico (2006) France 28.7%, Australia 26.3%, Fiji 12.5%, Japan 9.5%, Latvia 5.4%, US 4.6%, New Zealand 4% (2002)
Independence none (territory of the US) 12 July 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 0.7% (1991 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics fishing, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 51.26 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 56.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 45.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) 2.5% (2001 est.)
International organization participation IOC, UPU ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA NA sq km
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (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 43,980 (2004 est.) 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
-
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 5.71%


permanent crops: 2.86%


other: 91.43% (2005)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 50.68%


other: 49.32% (1998 est.)
Languages English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) I-Kiribati, English (official)
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 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
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: 79.2 years


male: 75.4 years


female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)
total population: 60.93 years


male: 57.97 years


female: 64.03 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 90-95% est.


male: NA%


female: NA% (2005 est.)
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 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 Central America and the Caribbean Oceania
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT


ships by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2002 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) (US citizens)


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 -8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] 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 NA NA
Population 108,448 (July 2007 est.) 98,549 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 28.9% (2002) NA%
Population growth rate -0.171% (2007 est.) 2.26% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1


note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of God (1999)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female


total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 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 (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


domestic: full range of services available


international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; 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 71,700 (2005) 3,800 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 80,300 (2005) NA
Television broadcast stations 5 (2006) 1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Total fertility rate 2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.) 4.28 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.2% (2004) 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Waterways - 5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands)
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