Kiribati

The Republic of Kiribati is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The country's 33 atolls are scattered over 3,500,000 km² near the equator. Its name is pronounced {{IPA|/kiribas/}} and is a Kiribati language rendering of "Gilberts", the English name for the main group of islands: the former Gilbert Islands.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Kiribati

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The name of the people is Gilbertese (or I-Kiribati, in Gilbertese).

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While English is the constitution's and law's language, kiribati or Gilbertese, the native Micronesian language, is widely spoken.

Related Topics:
English - Kiribati - Gilbertese - Micronesia

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Note that in Gilbertese there is no letter 's', the sound is represented by 'ti'. That is why Kiritimati Island is known in English as Christmas Island (not to be confused with the Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, which is administered by Australia).

Related Topics:
Kiritimati - Christmas Island

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Christianity is the major religion in the country, although mixed with many practices of the indigenous beliefs. There are also some Bahá'ís.

Related Topics:
Christianity - Bahá'ís

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