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

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

Three nations – Eritrea, Kiribati and Kosovo – took part in their first Games at Paris 2024 among 168 different delegations, a new record.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2024

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

Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust fund.

From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency