Government and Politics of Kiribati

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)

Legal System

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament elections: the House of Parliament nominates presidential candidates from among its members, who then compete in a national popular vote; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term and is eligible for up to three terms; most recent election held on 22 June 2020; vice president appointed by the president election results: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; Taneti MAAMAU 59.3%, Banuera BERINA 40.7%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats; 44 elected by popular vote, 1 appointed to represent Banaba Island, and 1 ex officio member — the attorney general; members serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on 14 August 2024, with a second round on 21 August 2024 Election results: percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) 22, Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (BKM) 20, independents 2, other 2 (includes attorney general and Banaba representative) Note: Legislative elections are typically held in two rounds. The Maneaba Ni Maungatabu serves as the supreme legislative body of Kiribati, with elected members representing constituencies across the Gilbert Islands, as well as the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands. The attorney general holds an ex officio seat and may participate in debate but does not vote.

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Political Parties

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG] note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures

Head of State

President Taneti MAAMAU

Head of Government

President Taneti MAAMAU

Cabinet

12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament

Elections

last held on 14 August 2024, with a second round on 21 August 2024

Election Results

percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) 22, Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (BKM) 20, independents 2, other 2 (includes attorney general and Banaba representative) Note: Legislative elections are typically held in two rounds. The Maneaba Ni Maungatabu serves as the supreme legislative body of Kiribati, with elected members representing constituencies across the Gilbert Islands, as well as the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands. The attorney general holds an ex officio seat and may participate in debate but does not vote.

Constitution

12-Jul-79

Independence

12 July 1979 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Capital City

Tarawa

Location

1 21 N, 173 02 E

Time Difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14

History

in Kiribati creation mythology, "tarawa" was what the spider Nareau named the land to distinguish it from "karawa" (the sky) and "marawa" (the ocean)

U.S. Embassy Suva 158 Princes Road,Suva, Fiji (679) 331-4466 Emergency after-hours telephone: (679) 772-8049 Facsimile: (679) 330-2267

Military Branches

no regular military forces (establishment prevented by the constitution); Police Force