FACTS

Location: Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line

Area (only Total) total: 811 sq km

Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Population: 110,356 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): I-Kiribati, English (official)

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Tarawa

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+12

Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)