<text><span class="style42"></span><span class="style12">KIRIBATI</span><span class="style14"></span><span class="style42">Official name:</span><span class="style13"> Republic of Kiribati</span><span class="style42">Member of: </span><span class="style13">Commonwealth</span><span class="style42">Area: </span><span class="style13">811 km2 (313 sq mi)Population: </span><span class="style42">77000 (1993 est)Capital: </span><span class="style13">Bairiki (on Tarawa) 25000 (1990 census)</span><span class="style42">Languages: </span><span class="style13">English (official), I-Kiribati</span><span class="style42">Religions: </span><span class="style13">Roman Catholic (over 50%), Kiribati Protestant (Congregational; over 40%)</span><span class="style42">GOVERNMENT</span><span class="style13">The President and 39 members of the Assembly are elected by universal adult suffrage every four years. A member for Banaba, and an additional member, are appointed to the Assembly. The President appoints a Cabinet, which is responsible to the Assembly.</span><span class="style42">GEOGRAPHY</span><span class="style13">With the exception of the island of Banaba ΓÇô which is composed of phosphate rock ΓÇô Kiribati comprises three groups of small coral atolls. </span><span class="style42">Climate: </span><span class="style13">Kiribati has a maritime equatorial climate with high rainfall.</span><span class="style42">ECONOMY</span><span class="style13">Most islanders are involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Copra is almost the only export. </span><span class="style42">Currency:</span><span class="style13">Kiribati uses Australian currency. </span><span class="style42">HISTORY </span><span class="style13">Kiribati has been inhabited by Micronesians for almost 4000 years. In the 18th century, the atolls were discovered by British sea captains, including Thomas Gilbert. The Gilbert Islands ΓÇô which became British in 1892 ΓÇô were occupied by Japan (1942ΓÇô43). British nuclear weapons were tested on Christmas Island (1957ΓÇô64). In 1979, the Gilbert Islands gained independence as Kiribati (pronounced Kiri-bass).</span></text>