The Human Truth Foundation

Kiribati (Republic of Kiribati)

http://www.humantruth.info/kiribati.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#kiribati

Kiribati
Republic of Kiribati
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index149th best
CapitalTarawa
Land Area 810km21
LocationAustralasia, Micronesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.1m2
Life Expectancy67.42yrs (2017)3
GNI$4 063 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesKI, KIR, 2965
Internet Domain.ki6
CurrencyDollar (AUD)7
Telephone+6868

1. Overview

#japan #UK

The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and a colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943. 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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverA tiny speck of islands in the Pacific, Kiribati still maintains traditional ways. Nothing happens too fast here, so wind down, relax and enjoy living on island time. Curving its way above and below the equator, the Republic of Kiribati encompasses the Gilbert, Phoenix and Line Islands. Measured by land size Kiribati is a tiny nation of just over 811 sq km, but its 33 atolls span a huge 3.5 million sq km of the Pacific. Most atolls surround turquoise lagoons and barely rise above the surrounding ocean, so it´s rare to be out of the sight and sound of the sea.

Kiribati´s recent colonial and WWII history (the islands were occupied by the Japanese in 1942) has had little impact on the outer islands, where the people subsist on coconuts, breadfruit and fish as they have done for centuries. Even on the main island, Tarawa, most locals live in traditional raised thatched huts. Western influence is increasing, though, in the form of cars, bars, movies and the Internet, and inevitably there´s an escalating urban drift from the outer islands to Tarawa.The I-Kiribati, people of the islands, are friendly but laconic - expect a bold `mauri´ (hello) as you pass.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Kiribati National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
133Ghana0.632
134Micronesia0.628
135Guatemala0.627
136Kiribati0.624
137Honduras0.621
138Sao Tome & Principe0.618
139Namibia0.615
140=Vanuatu0.607
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
148Timor-Leste (E. Timor)$4 461
149Syria$4 192
150Cambodia$4 079
151Kiribati$4 063
152Sao Tome & Principe$4 021
153Papua New Guinea$4 009
154Nepal$3 877
155Myanmar (Burma)$3 851
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
146Togo109.3
147Cambodia109.6
148Gabon110.0
149Kiribati110.5
150Laos110.7
151Sierra Leone110.7
152Benin110.8
153Madagascar111.3
Australasia Avg102.5
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Kiribati's Demographics and Migration

#demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

Kiribati's population is predicted to rise to 132 178 by 2030.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
176Sao Tome & Principe0.2m
177Samoa0.2m
178St Lucia0.2m
179Kiribati0.1m
180Micronesia0.1m
181Grenada0.1m
182St Vincent & Grenadines0.1m
183Tonga0.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)67.7
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
138Fiji67.1
139Senegal67.1
140Eritrea66.5
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
13
Pos.2016
Per 10013
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
61Djibouti09.1
62=Tajikistan09.1
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
64=Kiribati09.5
64=Guatemala09.5
64=Saudi Arabia09.5
67Haiti09.6
68Vanuatu09.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants14
Pos.2017
%14
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
110Chile2.7%
111Micronesia2.6%
112Azerbaijan2.6%
113Kiribati2.6%
114Samoa2.5%
115Zimbabwe2.4%
116Swaziland2.4%
117Ecuador2.4%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants15
Pos.2010
%15
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
88Bolivia6.8%
89Guinea-Bissau6.8%
90Slovenia6.5%
91Kiribati6.5%
92Bhutan6.3%
93Tunisia6.3%
94Finland6.2%
95Singapore6.1%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Kiribati's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16
1New Zealand17.3
2Australia23.9
3Fiji102.1
...
7Palau130.6
8Tonga132.6
9Marshall Islands134.2
10Samoa135.9
11Vanuatu137.8
12=Kiribati138.0
13Cook Islands144.5
14Tuvalu158.4
15Solomon Islands166.2
Australasia Avg119.7
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
181Angola136.0
182Vanuatu137.8
183=Palestine138.0
183=Kiribati138.0
185Eritrea139.5
186Afghanistan140.6
187Djibouti140.6
188Comoros140.8
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark17. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu17.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe17, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia17.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better18
Pos.2009
Treaties18
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
187Singapore5
188=Nauru5
189Marshall Islands4
190=Myanmar (Burma)4
190=Palau4
190=Malaysia4
193Bhutan3
194=Kiribati3
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better19
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty19
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
185Tonga15.55
186Micronesia15.55
187Somalia15.71
188Kiribati15.80
189Solomon Islands15.81
190Nauru16.16
191Sao Tome & Principe16.17
192Tuvalu16.33
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
149=Lesotho1965
149=Botswana1965
151Tuvalu1967
152=Kiribati1967
152=Ecuador1967
154Swaziland1968
155=Nauru1968
156Congo, (Brazzaville)1970
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
20
Pos.2017
Score20
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
125=Grenada-5
125=Dominica-5
125=Namibia-5
125=Kiribati-5
125=Jamaica-5
125=Cook Islands-5
125=Guyana-5
132St Lucia-9
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
21
Pos.202121
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
34Greece2.3
35=Antigua & Barbuda2.3
35=Japan2.3
35=Kiribati2.3
35=St Vincent & Grenadines2.3
35=Cape Verde2.3
35=Botswana2.3
35=Uruguay2.3
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Kiribati's Health

#alcohol #health #Kiribati #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)22
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5=Fiji90.6
6Vanuatu97.1
7Niue98.7
8=Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)22
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
72Vietnam85.4
73=Trinidad & Tobago86.6
73=Grenada86.6
75Kiribati87.0
76Algeria87.3
77=Ireland87.4
77=Burundi87.4
79Nicaragua87.5
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives23. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau23.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean23, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa23.

For more, see:

Health:

Kiribati does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Kiribati comes in the best 20 for its smoking rate24 (amongst the best in Australasia) and in its alcohol consumption rate25 (one of the best in Australasia). It does better than average in its adolescent birth rate26. Kiribati doesn't do so well in other areas. Kiribati does worse than average in terms of its immunizations take-up27 and in its average life expectancy11. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Kiribati improved by +6.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)67.7
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
138Fiji67.1
139Senegal67.1
140Eritrea66.5
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
25
Pos.2016
Per Capita25
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
8=Saudi Arabia0.2
9Syria0.3
10=Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12=Iraq0.4
12=Brunei0.4
12=Egypt0.4
15Djibouti0.5
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
24
Pos.201424
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
4Uganda 41
5Rwanda 53
6Samoa 54
7Congo, DR 74
8Ethiopia 76
9Vanuatu 76
10Guyana 77
11Suriname 79
12Malawi 80
Australasia Avg 372
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better28
Pos.2016
%28
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
182Micronesia75.9
183Samoa77.6
184Tonga78.5
185Kiribati78.7
186Niue80.0
187Tuvalu81.9
188Marshall Islands83.5
189Cook Islands84.7
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
26
Pos.2015
Per 100026
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
53Turkmenistan16.4
54Myanmar (Burma)16.5
55Malta16.6
56Kiribati17.2
57Macedonia17.6
58Uzbekistan17.7
59Hungary18.0
60Belarus18.2
Australasia Avg30.1
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
27
Pos.2015
Avg %27
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
127Kenya88.5
128Costa Rica88.5
129Colombia88.4
130Kiribati88.4
131Netherlands88.1
132Paraguay88.1
133Bosnia & Herzegovina88.0
134Sierra Leone87.7
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Kiribati's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Australasia (2023)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Fiji63.3
2New Zealand63.8
3Australia66.4
4Vanuatu75.0
5=Kiribati87.0
6Papua New Guinea89.0
7=Solomon Islands103.0
7=Micronesia103.0
9Samoa108.0
10=Nauru108.0
11Tonga115.0
Australasia Avg89.2
q=11.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
104St Kitts & Nevis86.5
105=Sierra Leone87.0
105=Malawi87.0
105=Kiribati87.0
108Algeria87.8
109Equatorial Guinea88.0
110Honduras88.3
111Senegal88.5
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Kiribati comes 105th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. Kiribati does better than average when it comes to how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity, its forested percent change 1990-201530 and in annual meat consumption per person31. But, things still need to improve in Kiribati. Kiribati does worse than average in its environmental performance32.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
%30
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
88=Turkmenistan00.0
88=Djibouti00.0
88=S. Africa00.0
88=Kiribati00.0
88=Andorra00.0
88=Malta00.0
88=Saudi Arabia00.0
88=Grenada00.0
Australasia Avg+03.4
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
32
Pos.201832
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
92Bolivia56.0
93Barbados55.8
94Georgia55.7
95Kiribati55.3
96Bahrain55.2
97Nicaragua55.0
98Bahamas55.0
99Kyrgyzstan54.9
Australasia Avg55.2
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
72Estonia1994 Oct 25
73Greece1994 Nov 02
74Grenada1994 Nov 09
75Kiribati1994 Nov 14
76Romania1994 Nov 15
77Austria1994 Nov 16
78Indonesia1994 Nov 21
79Slovakia1994 Nov 23
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
31
Pos.2021
kg31
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
89Libya50.0
90Ecuador50.9
91Albania52.0
92Kiribati52.4
93Vietnam52.6
94Dominican Rep.53.5
95Peru54.0
96Mauritius54.2
Australasia Avg74.2
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Kiribati's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
...
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
14Tuvalu148.0
15Papua New Guinea150.4
16Solomon Islands152.7
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity & Learning (2020)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
186Congo, (Brazzaville)137.4
187Burundi139.0
188Madagascar142.5
189Kiribati143.0
190Benin143.3
191Gambia144.0
192Cambodia144.6
193Central African Rep.146.3
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Kiribati fell by half a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased. 34

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
35
Pos.2021
Years35
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
139Namibia11.9
140Comoros11.9
141India11.9
142Kiribati11.8
143Nauru11.7
144Tajikistan11.7
145Micronesia11.5
146Vanuatu11.5
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
36
Pos.201636
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
166Turkmenistan15%
167Bangladesh13%
168Iraq13%
169Kiribati13%
170Rwanda12%
171Mali12%
172Haiti12%
173=Papua New Guinea12%
Australasia Avg44.3%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
37
Pos.2017
Ratio37
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
138=Solomon Islands0.0
138=Congo, (Brazzaville)0.0
138=Sao Tome & Principe0.0
138=Kiribati0.0
138=Ivory Coast0.0
138=Mauritania0.0
138=Iraq0.0
138=Oman0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better38
Pos.201938
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
145Papua New Guinea24.10
146=Zimbabwe24.20
146=Ghana24.20
148Kiribati24.70
149=Yemen24.70
150Ethiopia24.90
151=Swaziland25.10
151=Malawi25.10
Australasia Avg13.47
World Avg14.59
q=184.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below39:

Christian97%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.8%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Baha'i 2.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% (2005 census)40.

Links: