Cultural Demography
The total population of Kiribati total approximately 100,000.
The native people of Kiribati are called "I-Kiribati." The word "Kiribati" is actually the local spelling of the word "Gilbert" and the original name of this British colony was the Gilbert Islands. In 1979 when independence was gained, the indigenous format of the name was adopted.
Ethnically, the Kiribati people are Micronesians, but recent archeological evidence indicates that Austronesians originally settled the islands thousands of years ago. Around the 14th century, Fijians and Tongans invaded the islands thus complicating the ethnic range, and there are also people of Polynesian ancestry further diversifying the ethnic typologies. Intermarriage among all ancestral groups, however, has led to a population reasonably homogeneous in appearance and traditions.
The people of Kiribati speak a Micronesian dialect called Gilbertese or I-Kiribati, however, English is the official language. English is not used very often outside the island capital of Tarawa. It is more likely that English is mixed in its use with Gilbertese. Older generations of I-Kiribati tend to use more complicated versions of Gilbertese.
Christianity is the major religion, having been introduced by missionaries in the 19th century. The population is predominantly Roman Catholic, although a substantial portion of the population is Congregationalist Protestant. Many other Protestant denominations, including more evangelical types, are also represented, and the Baha'i religion also exists in Kiribati.
Human Development
The population of Kiribati has a life expectancy at birth of 62.85 years (59.79 for males, and 66.06 for females) and an infant mortality rate of 44.69 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The people of Kiribati mostly live in villages with populations between 50 and 3,000 on the outer islands. Most houses are made of materials obtained from coconut and pandanus trees. Frequent droughts hinder reliable large-scale agriculture, so the islanders have largely turned to the sea for livelihood. Most are outrigger sailors and fishers. Copra plantations serve as a second source of employment. In recent years, large numbers of citizens have moved to the more urban island capital of Tarawa.
To increase opportunities for the islanders, the government has placed greater emphasis on education. Primary education is free and compulsory for the first six years, now being extended to nine years. Mission schools are slowly being absorbed into the government primary school system. Higher education is expanding; students may seek technical, teacher or marine training, or study in other countries. To date, most choosing to do the latter have gone to Fiji.
About 3.3 percent of GDP is spend on health expenditures. Access to sanitation, water, and health care is considered to be average; however, standards are less than optimal in rural areas.
Written by Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief,
www.countrywatch.com; see Bibliography for list research sources.