Discover
The identity of the nation
Kiribati (pronounced “Kiribas” in Gilbertese) is a republic made up of islands in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, comprising 33 atolls (low, ring-shaped coral islands) and one isolated island (Banaba), scattered across more than 3.4 million square kilometers of ocean, yet with only 811 km² of dry land. The I-Kiribati (the people of Kiribati) descend from the first Austronesian peoples who reached the Gilbert Islands around 3,000 years ago, and their culture is deeply rooted in the life of the sea, in community, and in the Christian faith, which arrived in the archipelago in the 19th century and today permeates every village and every island.
The nation bears witness to one of the most urgent crises of our time: rising sea levels. With an average elevation of just two meters above the ocean, Kiribati faces the concrete threat of seeing part of its territory submerged within this century. Salt water from the sea already invades and destroys crops, contaminates freshwater reserves, and forces families to relocate within the archipelago itself. The government adopted the concept of “migration with dignity” as a long-term strategy, going so far as to purchase land on Vanua Levu, in the Fiji Islands, as a last-resort option for its people. This crisis is not abstract: it is the ground that disappears, the garden that withers, and the land of the ancestors that the sea threatens to cover.
Despite this physical vulnerability, the I-Kiribati show remarkable spiritual resilience. Life revolves around the maneaba (the communal meeting house), where community decisions are made by consensus, festivals celebrate the harvest and the catch, and the Christian faith serves as a foundation for facing the uncertainty of the future. About 96% of the population identifies as Christian, divided mainly between Roman Catholics and the historic Protestant churches: the Kiribati Uniting Church and the Kiribati Protestant Church.
Kiribati’s economy depends overwhelmingly on fishing licenses granted to foreign fleets to operate in its Exclusive Economic Zone, one of the world’s richest tuna fishing grounds. These revenues accounted for between 40 and 50% of GDP in recent years. The country imports most of its processed food, which raises the cost of living and contributes to diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which have become a growing public health problem.
For global mission, Kiribati represents a unique field of intercession: a nation where the gospel arrived early and put down deep roots, but where nominal faith and the blending with old beliefs hinder more mature discipleship; and where the climate crisis puts at stake not only livelihoods, but the cultural and spiritual identity of an entire people. To pray for Kiribati is to pray for a people living at the edge of the abyss with their eyes fixed on heaven.
- c. 3000 BC First Austronesians arrive in the Gilbert Islands, coming from Micronesia
- 13th century Invasions by Samoans and Tongans bring Polynesian elements; the Gilbertese people (I-Kiribati) take shape
- 16th century Spanish navigators sight some of the islands; sparse European contact
- 19th century Whalers and traders reach the islands; Protestant and Catholic evangelization begins
- 1892 The Gilbert Islands become a British protectorate
- 1900 Banaba island is incorporated into the protectorate after the discovery of rich phosphate reserves
- 1916 Official establishment of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (now Tuvalu), under British administration
- 1943 Battle of Tarawa: intense combat between American and Japanese forces on Tarawa atoll, with nearly 6,400 dead in 76 hours; a bloody landmark of World War II in the Pacific
- 1975 The Ellice Islands separate from the Gilbert Islands, forming Tuvalu
- 1979 Independence: on July 12, the Gilbert Islands become the Republic of Kiribati, with the inauguration of its first elected president
- 2003-2016 Kiribati brings the country's climate crisis to the world's attention at the United Nations
- Today Kiribati faces the existential threat of rising sea levels, seeking adaptation and resilience solutions
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Gilbertese (te Kiribati)official language and mother tongue of nearly the entire population; belongs to the Austronesian language group of Micronesia
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Englishofficial language, used in government, formal education, and business
Kiribati is the only country in the world located in all four hemispheres at once, straddling both the equator and the International Date Line. Its territory is divided into three island groups: the Gilbert Islands (to the west, where most of the population lives), the Phoenix Islands (in the center), and the Line Islands (to the east). All are low, ring-shaped coral islands (atolls), rarely rising more than three meters above sea level. This flat topography makes the country extremely vulnerable to sea level rise caused by climate change: salt water from the sea already contaminates underground freshwater reserves and destroys taro plantations (an edible root that is a local staple food). South Tarawa, the de facto capital, concentrates more than half of the country's population on a narrow strip of land between the lagoon and the open ocean.
Major cities
- South TarawaDe facto capital, seat of government; densely populated atoll with more than 63,000 inhabitants according to the 2020 census
- BetioThe country's largest port and commercial center, at the western tip of South Tarawa
- BairikiMain administrative seat of the government of Kiribati, home to ministries and the Presidential Residence
- Kiritimati (Christmas Island)The world's largest coral atoll by land area; the most advanced point in the UTC+14 time zone
- Tabuaeran (Fanning Island)Remote island in the Line Islands, with a small community and traditional way of life
Climate and temperature
Palusami
National dish: coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves and slow-cooked in an earth oven (an underground cooking method called umu); creamy, slightly sweet, and deeply tied to community festivals (botaki)
Buatoro
Dense cake of grated te bwabwai (the giant swamp taro) with coconut cream and coconut toddy syrup, wrapped in leaves and cooked in an earth oven
Grilled fish with coconut
Fish freshly caught from the ocean, grilled or steamed with coconut cream; the daily staple of the I-Kiribati diet
Pumpkin stew with meat
Steamed stew of pumpkin, cabbage, and canned meat; a practical and common meal on the islands
Coconut toddy (te karewe)
Sweet sap drawn from the flowers of the coconut palm; drunk fresh or fermented; a central ingredient of the local cuisine and culture
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
The maneaba: heart of the community
The maneaba (the communal meeting house) is the center of social, political, and spiritual life; each family has its fixed place (boti) and no important decision is made without everyone's consensus
Respect for elders
The age hierarchy is fundamental: speaking before or over an elder is considered disrespectful; the eldest represents the family in the maneaba assemblies
Life governed by the tides
The daily rhythm revolves around the ocean: the tide determines the timing of fishing, transportation, and gathering seafood
Generous hospitality
Offering food and drink to a visitor is a cultural obligation; refusing without justification may be taken as an offense
Te mwaie: the narrative dance
Traditional dances (te mwaie) tell stories of the islands' history and nature through precise movements, song, and percussion; they are performed at community festivals (botaki) and celebrations
Coconut palm: tree of life
The coconut palm provides food, drink, building material, and coconut toddy (te karewe); its presence is inseparable from I-Kiribati cultural identity
Fishing as a community bond
Men fish in groups, passing techniques down from generation to generation; fishing is both subsistence and a ritual for strengthening bonds
Christian faith woven into daily life
Christian practice, mainly Catholic and Protestant, is woven into everyday life: worship services, wedding and funeral ceremonies follow rituals that blend Christian liturgy and Gilbertese customs
- Walking in front of people who are talking Cutting through the line of sight of people in conversation is an act of rudeness; go around or humbly excuse yourself
- Looking a superior directly in the eyes Direct eye contact with people of higher status is interpreted as a challenge or lack of respect; keep your gaze lower
- Entering a maneaba (meeting house) without guidance Each place (boti) is reserved for a specific family; sitting in the wrong place without being invited is a serious offense
- Showing impatience The pace of life on the islands is calm and unhurried; rushing and pressure are culturally unwelcome
- Offering or receiving with the left hand In many contexts, using only the left hand to hand something over may be considered disrespectful
- Photographing people without permission Privacy and personal dignity are highly valued; always ask permission before taking photos
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The vast majority identify as Christian, but practice is often superficial, without personal transformation or deep discipleship
Spiritist practices and reverence for ancestral spirits persist, mixed with the Christian faith in wedding, funeral, and harvest ceremonies
The existential threat of rising sea levels breeds fatalism and collective anxiety that can turn hearts away from hope in the gospel
An economy almost entirely dependent on foreign fishing licenses creates vulnerability and passivity that shape the collective mindset
Excessive consumption of fermented drinks, including coconut toddy (te karewe), is a recognized problem, affecting families and community health
Many young people emigrate to Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia in search of opportunities, weakening the family and community fabric
Dependence on imported processed foods contributes to rising rates of diabetes and heart disease, a burden that drains resources and hope
Many remote islands have little presence of trained Christian leadership and few resources for discipleship
The strong communal identity of the maneaba can, when not redeemed, resist the individual transformation the gospel requires
Although a Bible translation exists, in-depth training materials in te Kiribati are scarce on the most remote islands
Religious freedom is guaranteed by the country’s constitution and respected in practice: the government protects the right to worship, to proclaim one’s faith, and to change religion. With about 96% of the population identifying as Christian, institutional pressure on believers is minimal.
The challenges the church faces are internal in nature: faith lived in name only, the blending of Christianity with old spiritual practices, and the lack of local leadership prepared for deeper discipleship. Christians seeking a more committed faith may encounter social resistance within their own communities, where tradition and the communal identity tied to the maneaba (the village meeting house) sometimes prevail over personal transformation. The climate crisis, by threatening the country’s physical existence, adds a spiritual urgency that the local church is still learning to face with the depth the situation demands.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 129K Partially reached 97,8%
- 3K Significantly reached 2,2%
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 2 Partially reached 50%
- 2 Significantly reached 50%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
geographic isolation makes imports expensive
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Drinking water: never drink tap water; use bottled or boiled water on all the islands
- Health: there is no malaria in Kiribati, but dengue and chikungunya do occur; use repellent and covering clothing at dawn and dusk
- Food: avoid unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables; prefer well-cooked, hot food
- Language: Gilbertese (te Kiribati) opens doors in the communities; learning basic greetings shows genuine respect
- Maneaba: when invited into a maneaba, wait for guidance on where to sit; never choose a place on your own
- Transportation: roads in South Tarawa carry heavy traffic with poor lighting at night; drive with caution
- Connectivity: internet and phone service are limited on the remote islands; plan ahead
- Extreme weather: watch for cyclone and storm surge warnings, especially between November and April
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.