Kiribati

American  

[keer-ee-bah-tee, keer-uh-bas] / ˌkɪər iˈbɑ ti, ˈkɪər əˌbæs /

noun

1. a republic in the central Pacific Ocean, on the equator, comprising 33 islands. 263 sq. mi. (681 sq. km). Tarawa.

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Kiribati British  

/ ˌkɪrɪˈbæs, ˌkɪrɪˈbætɪ /

noun

1. an independent republic in the W Pacific: comprises 33 islands including Banaba (Ocean Island), the Gilbert and Phoenix Islands, and eight of the Line Islands; part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands until 1975; became self-governing in 1977 and gained full independence in 1979 as the Republic of Kiribati; a member of the Commonwealth. Official languages: English, I-Kiribati (Gilbertese) is widely spoken. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: Australian dollar. Capital: Bairiki islet, in Tarawa atoll. Pop: 103 248 (2013 est). Area: 684 sq km (264 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

His wife told RNZ that their family was still holding out hope for the 47-year-old, who had been a fisherman in Kiribati before moving to New Zealand in 2003.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

Kiribati, another island nation, has said it is exploring an offshore mining partnership with China.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

"We must show the world that multilateralism is alive," Josephine Moote, permanent representative of the small-island state of Kiribati, told COP30 on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025

Eighty years ago, the United States military attacked the island of Betio, part of the Tarawa atoll in what is today the archipelago nation of Kiribati, to wrest it from Japanese control.

From New York Times • Nov. 18, 2023

In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 6 independent states that are not in the UN-Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru, Switzerland, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

From The 1998 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency