22 Fascinating Facts About Kiribati!

Kiribati may be small and remote, but it’s packed with history, culture, and challenges that make it a place like no other. Here are 25 fun facts and interesting tidbits about this island nation!

Unique Pronunciation

The name “Kiribati” is pronounced “Kiribas”, following the local Gilbertese language guidelines.

Spread Out

Kiribati is made up of 32 atolls and one reef island, spread over 3.4 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most dispersed countries in the world.

Time Traveler

Kiribati is the only country in the world to be situated in all four hemispheres—northern, southern, eastern, and western.

Future First

Kiribati is among the first places on Earth to welcome the new day (and the New Year!) since it sits very close to the International Date Line. The nation also has three time zones—Gilbert Island Time, Phoenix Island Time, and Line Islands Time—and is not subjected to the annoyance of daylight saving time.

Historic Lines

Speaking of time zones! Kiribati once straddled the International Date Line, meaning that the Gilbert Islands were technically a full day ahead of its eastern neighbors, the Phoenix and Line Islands. The country’s government opted to move the line on December 31, 1994 about 1,000 kilometers eastward to ensure the entire country shared the same date. This also was the creation of the UTC+13:00 and UTC+14:00 time zones.

Independent Spirit

Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom on July 12, 1979. Its capital is Tarawa—also its most populous area.

Oceanic Protector

Kiribati established the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in 2008, one of the largest marine protected areas in the world at over 408,000 square kilometers. In 2010, the PIPA was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rising Concerns

Due to climate change and rising sea levels, Kiribati faces significant threats of submersion, meaning entire islands of the country could be uninhabitable within decades.

Diverse Languages

While English is one official language of Kiribati, the vast majority of the population speaks Gilbertese—you can also find it spoken in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and other areas of the Pacific.

Long Island

Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island—and not to be confused with the Australian territory of the same name!) in Kiribati is one of the world’s largest atolls by land area, covering an area of about 312 square kilometers. It accounts for about 70% of the country’s total land area.

Flag Symbolism

The flag of Kiribati features a golden frigate bird flying over a rising sun and the ocean’s waves. The blue and white wave pattern represents the country’s three archipelagos, while the sun’s 17 rays represent the 16 Gilbert Islands plus the island of Banaba. The sun is depicted as rising over the equator.

Fishing Economy

Kiribati has very few natural resources, and has the lowest GDP out of any sovereign state in Oceania. As such, fishing is the backbone of its economy, with the country earning revenue from the sale of fishing licenses to foreign fleets. As well, Kiribati is a major exporter of ornamental fish, like the flame angelfish.

Scattered Population

Despite its vast oceanic territory, Kiribati has a small population, with around 120,000 people living mostly in the Gilbert Islands.

Cultural Connection

Kiribati’s culture is deeply rooted in community and kinship, with traditional dances playing an important role in social gatherings. Traditional dances emphasize outstretched arms and birdlike movements (echoed in the frigate bird on the country’s flag), and can be done in a standing or sitting position. The traditional dances serve as a form of storytelling rather than entertainment.

No McDonald’s

Kiribati is one of the few countries in the world without a McDonald’s.

Traditional Navigation

Kiribati people have a rich history of navigation using stars, waves, and birds, which they used long before modern maps and GPS.

Catholic Influence

The majority of Kiribati’s population is Christian, of which about 59% are Roman Catholic, reflecting the influence of Western missionaries. The country is secular, and freedom of religion is included in its constitution.

Increased Migration

Many Kiribati citizens are relocating to countries like New Zealand and Australia due to the environmental and existential challenges posed by climate change.

Capital Challenge

South Tarawa, the capital city, is one of the most densely populated areas in the Pacific, with overcrowding leading to issues like limited freshwater and sanitation challenges.

Sparse Tourism

While Kiribati isn’t a major tourist destination, it has quite a bit of untouched beauty, with gorgeous beaches and traditional village life.

Self-Sufficient

Many Kiribati families practice subsistence farming and fishing, living off the land and sea in traditional ways.

Unique Sport

Te Oreano is a traditional sport in Kiribati, where opposing teams will throw a heavy ball to one another, each trying to catch and toss it back without dropping the ball or getting injured.

About the Author

As the editor-in-chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me at sarah@frayedpassport.com!

Featured image by jorono from Pixabay