Background

The Republic of Kiribati is 33 coral atolls in the South Pacific region, 21 of which are inhabited. The population is approximately 100,000 with life expectancy at 62.85 years. Kiribati’s per capita GDP, at approximately U.S. $720 in 2006, is one of the lowest in the world. Only 16% of the workforce participates in the formal wage economy and over 60% of all formal jobs are in South Tarawa. As coral atolls do not rise much above see level these islands are likely to be heavily impacted by rising seas as a result of climate change.