Economy of Kiribati

Infobox Economy
country = Kiribati
currency = Australian dollar (AUD)
year = no data
organs = PARTA
rank = 224th
gdp = $79 million (2001 est.)
growth = 1.5% (2001 est.)
per capita = $800 (2001 est.)
sectors = agriculture: 30%, industry: 7%, services: 63% (1998 est.)
inflation = 2.5% (2001 est.)
poverty = no data
labor = 7,870 (not including subsistence farmers) (2001 est.)
occupations = agriculture: 30%, industry: 7%, services: 63% (1998 est.)
unemployment = 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
industries = fishing, handicrafts
exports = $17 million (f.o.b., 2004 est.)
export-goods = copra 62%, seaweed, fish
export-partners = France 45.7%, Japan 29.2%, US 9.1%, Thailand 5.4% (2004)
imports = $62 million (c.i.f., 2004)
import-goods = foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
import-partners = Australia 33.6%, Fiji 29.8%, Japan 10.3%, New Zealand 6.9%, France 4.1% (2004)
debt = "external": $10 million (1999 est.)
revenue = $28.4 million (2000)
expenses = $37.2 million (2000)
aid = "recipient": $15.5 million (2001), largely from UK and Japan
cianame = krThe Republic of Kiribati's per capita Gross National Product of less than $1000 makes it one of the poorest countries in the world. Phosphates had been profitably exported from Banaba Island since the turn of the century, but the deposits were exhausted in 1979. The economy now depends on foreign assistance and revenue from fishing licenses to finance its needed imports and development budget.

The expiration of phosphate deposits in 1979 had a devastating impact on the economy. Receipts from phosphates had accounted for roughly 80% of export earnings and 50% of government revenue. Per capita GDP was more than cut in half between 1979 and 1981. A sovereign wealth fund financed by phosphate earnings was established in 1956. In 2008, the Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund was valued at US$ 400 million. [ [http://www.swfinstitute.org/fund/kiribati.php Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute] ] Prudent management of the Reserve Fund will be vital for the long-term welfare of the country.

In one form or another, Kiribati gets a large portion of its income from abroad. Examples include fishing licenses, development assistance, worker remittances, and tourism. Given Kiribati's limited domestic production ability, it must import nearly all of its essential foodstuffs and manufactured items; it depends on these external sources of income for financing.

Fishing fleets from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States pay a licensing fee in order to operate in Kiribati's territorial waters. These licenses produce over $20 million annually, with a surge in 1998 to nearly $30 million when El Niño climatic conditions boosted the local catch. Due to its small size and spread-out nature, however, Kiribati also loses untold millions of income per year from illegal, unlicensed fishing in its exclusive economic zone.

Another $20 million to $25 million of external income takes the form of direct financial transfers. Official development assistance amounts to between $15 million and $20 million per year. The largest donors are Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Remittances from Kiribati workers living abroad provide another $5 million.

Tourism is one of the largest domestic activities. Between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors per year provide $5-$10 million in revenue. Attractions include World War II battle sites, game fishing, ecotourism, and the Millennium Islands, situated just inside the International Date Line and the first place on earth to celebrate every New Year.

Most islanders engage in subsistence activities ranging from fishing to the growing of food crops like bananas, breadfruit, and papaya. The leading export is the coconut product copra, which accounts for about two-thirds of export revenue. Other exports include pet fish, shark fins, and seaweed. Kiribati's principal trading partner is Australia.

Other data

Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (1991 est.)

Electricity - production:12 GWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
"fossil fuel:"100%
"hydro:"0%
"nuclear:"0%
"other:"0% (1998)

Electricity - consumption:11.2 GWh (2003)

Agriculture - products:
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Currency:1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates:Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.5207 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)

References

External links

* [http://www.mfep.gov.ki/ Kiribati Ministry of Finance]

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