Kiribati

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Islands. 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. Private sector initiatives and a financial sector are in the early stages of development. Foreign financial aid from the EU, UK, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UN agencies, and Taiwan accounts for 20-25% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust fund.

$619.5 million (2010 est.)

$610.4 million (2009 est.)

$614.7 million (2008 est.)

$152 million (2010 est.)

1.5% (2010 est.)

-0.7% (2009 est.)

-1.1% (2008 est.)

$6,200 (2010 est.)

$6,200 (2009 est.)

$6,300 (2008 est.)

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)

2% (1992 est.)

NA%

0.2% (2007 est.)

$NA

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

fishing, handicrafts

NA%

14 million kWh (2007 est.)

13.02 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

NA bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

261 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

-$21 million (2007 est.)

$17 million (2004 est.)

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

$62 million (2004 est.)

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

$10 million (1999 est.)

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)