Kiribati:

Region: Oceania – Micronesia

Capital: Tarawa

Languages: English, Gilbertese

Population: 88000

Currency: Australian Dollar

Government: Republic

Geography: Kiribati consists of about 32 atolls and one island with at least three atolls in each hemisphere. Kiribati is expected to be first country in which land territory disappears due to global climate change. Kiribati officials have appealed to the international community, namely Australia and New Zealand, to take refugees should the country become submerged.

Economy: Kiribati has very few natural resources as commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports with tourism providing more than 20% of GDP. Foreign financial aid is also a major contributor making up 25% to 50% of GDP.

Demographics: The native people of Kiribati are called I-Kiribati and are Micronesians. Recent archaeological findings have indicated that Austronesians originally settled the islands thousands of years ago. Fijians and Tongans invaded the islands and this diversified the ethnic range. However the population remains mostly homogenous in appearance and traditions due to intermarriage among all ancestral groups.

Human Rights:. The government of Kiribati respects the civil and human rights of its citizens. However there are only a few areas in which problems remain such as limits on the freedoms of press and speech, and a few incidences of extrajudicial communal justice, have been reported.

Human Development: The population of Kiribati has a life expectancy at birth of 57 for males, and 63 for females and an infant mortality rate of 54 deaths per 1,000 live births. The government has placed greater emphasis on education and primary education is free. Education is compulsory only for the first six years but this is now being extended to nine years. Higher education is expanding with students seeking study in other countries. Most choosing to complete medical training have commonly been sent to Cuba.