The Country Disappearing Under Rising Seas
Kiribati (pronounced “Kir-ih-bahss”) is one of the countries most threatened by rising seas. It consists of 33 coral atolls and reef islands scattered across 3.5 million km² of Pacific Ocean — but the total land area is just 811 km², with most at less than 3 m above sea level. Projections suggest significant parts may become uninhabitable within decades due to sea level rise, saltwater intrusion into freshwater lenses, and increasing storm intensity.
The country purchased 20 km² of forested land in Fiji in 2014 as a potential relocation site for citizens if Kiribati becomes uninhabitable — one of the first concrete national climate migration actions by any government.
Kiribati crosses both the Equator and the International Date Line — the country’s Caroline Islands (renamed Millennium Islands) are UTC+14, the earliest time zone on Earth, chosen in 1995 when Kiribati moved the date line east of all its territory to give the country a single time zone. This makes Kiribati the first country in the world to experience each new day.
Tarawa — the capital atoll — was the site of the Battle of Tarawa (November 1943) — one of WWII’s most brutal 76-hour battles, with thousands of US Marines killed taking the Japanese-held atoll.
A Brief History
Micronesian settlement c. 2000 BC. British protectorate 1892 (Gilbert and Ellice Islands). Battle of Tarawa 1943. Independence 1979 as Kiribati (from Gilbert + Ellice Islands separation; Ellice became Tuvalu).
Geography and Climate
Kiribati covers 811 km² across 33 atolls and islands spread across 3.5 million km² of ocean. Very low-lying. Climate: tropical.
Culture, Language and Religion
English and Gilbertese are official. Religion: approximately 96% Christian.
The Economy
Kiribati has a lower-middle-income economy (~$220 million GDP) — among the Pacific’s poorest. Tuna fishing licenses and remittances are major sources.
Travel Guide
Entry: Visa on arrival. Extremely remote destination.
Surprising Facts
- Kiribati purchased 20 km² of Fijian land in 2014 — a contingency for climate relocation.
- Kiribati’s Millennium Islands (UTC+14) are the earliest time zone on Earth — first to see each new day.
- Kiribati crosses both the Equator and the International Date Line — the only country to do so.
- The Battle of Tarawa (1943) killed ~1,000 US Marines and nearly all 4,500 Japanese defenders in 76 hours.
- Most of Kiribati is less than 3 m above sea level — making it one of the countries most threatened by rising seas.
- The country spans 3.5 million km² of ocean for just 811 km² of land — one of the most dispersed nations on Earth.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.