GEOSCIENCE DIVISION
Map Cook Islands Federated Sates of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Nauru Niue Papua New Guinea Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Palau Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Country
Population
Land Area
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Cook Islands Cook Islands
Population 21,750 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 236.7 km2
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Federated Sates of Micronesia Federated Sates of Micronesia
Population 107,862 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 702 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 4,928 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Fiji Fiji
Population 918 675 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 18,270 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 3000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Kiribati Kiribati
Population 107,817 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 811 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: South of the equator: 1,300 mm Tarawa: 2,000 mm Northernmost islands: over 3,200mm Eastern Line Islands: less than 1,000 mm
Water consumption
Country Nauru Nauru
Population 11,528 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 21 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,090 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Niue Niue
Population 1,625m(GoN statistics 2006)
Land Area 260 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,180 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
Population 5,795,887 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 462,840 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1000-80000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Marshall Islands
Population 20,842
Land Area 458 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,700 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Palau Republic of Palau
Population 61,815(July 2007 est.)
Land Area 11,854.3 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Southern attols: 4,000mm Northern attols:2,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Samoa Samoa
Population 214,265
Land Area 2,944 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Solomon Islands Solomon Islands
Population 566,842
Land Area 28,450 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1500-5000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tonga Tonga
Population 116,921
Land Area 748 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Varies from north and south of tonga with an estimated average of 2500 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tuvalu Tuvalu
Population 11.992 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 26 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3000mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Vanuatu Vanuatu
Population 211,971 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 12,200 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 4000 mm per annum
Water consumption
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Kiribati
Geography
Total Area 811 km2
Land 811 km2
Water 0 km2
Highest Elevation  

Land Use
Arable 2.74%
Perm. Crop 47.95%
Other 49.31% (2005)

People
Population 107,817 (July 2007 est.)
Population Growth Rate 2.235% (2007 est.)

Economy
GDP per capita (PPP) $2,800 (2004 est.)

Water Statistics
Avg Rainfall
South of the equator: 1,300 mm
Tarawa: 2,000 mm
Northernmost islands: over 3,200 mm Eastern Line Islands: less than 1,000 mm
 
Kiribati


Status of Water Resources
Sources of freshwater for Kiribati’s island communities are restricted to rainwater(supplementary sources of freshwater), shallow unconfined groundwater (generally within less than 2 m of the surface), imported water or desalination (Falkland 2002). Seawater is used by many for bathing.

The raised island of Banaba uniquely has fresh water pools in subterranean caves that could serve as an emergency source of water in times of severe drought (Overmars and Butcher 2001). In addition, during the British Phosphate Commission period water was imported in phosphate boats and stored in large 4,500 m3 storage tanks on the island. Water in these tanks is currently unused because of the presence of rust suspension in the water.

Problems with Water Resources and Associated Environment Issues

Numerous reports and policy decisions have clearly enunciated the major issues and concerns in water and sanitation in Kiribati. Some of the principal concerns are listed below.
  • Provision of adequate water for human health and community development.
  • Provision of equitable access to safe water.
  • Protection of water sources
  • Provision of appropriate sanitation
  • Impact of droughts on water supplies
  • Impact of sea level rise on water resources
  • Provision of sustainable water supply and sanitation systems
  • Ensuring groundwater supply systems do not compromise rights or livelihoods
  • Improvement in water governance, capacity building and maintenance of skills
  • Improvement in knowledge and monitoring
  • Land and water ownership in water source areas and common perceptions
Diagnostic Report
Demonstration Proposal
Hot Spot Analysis

Information on this page obtained from Integrated Water Resources Management programme's Diagnostic Reports (SOPAC 2007)