Kiribati: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Kiribati

Download the flag of Kiribati as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇰🇮.

History of Kiribati

The islands of Kiribati were settled by Micronesian-speaking peoples thousands of years ago, with later contact from Polynesian and Fijian groups. European ships visited from the late 18th century. Britain declared a protectorate over the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1892, and it became a colony in 1916. Japan occupied part of the Gilbert Islands during the Second World War, and the Battle of Tarawa took place in 1943. The Ellice Islands separated in the 1970s to become Tuvalu. Kiribati became independent in 1979 and is a republic whose islands lie across a very large ocean area.

Key dates

1. 1892Britain declares a protectorate over the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
2. 1916The islands become the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.
3. 1941Japanese forces occupy parts of the Gilbert Islands.
4. 1943The Battle of Tarawa is fought between US and Japanese forces.
5. 1975The Ellice Islands separate from the colony, later becoming Tuvalu.
6. 1979Kiribati becomes independent on 12 July.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Kiribati

Kiribati uses the Australian dollar (AUD, $) and Kiribati dollar (KID, $). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

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