A stunning little island nation that boasts some of the most incredible white sandy beaches is full of English speakers – despite being a whopping 8,699 miles from England. Due to its remoteness the tiny nation of Kiribati only has around 121,300 inhabitants.
Kiribati, pronounced KEE-ree-bas and known officially as the Republic of Kiribati, is located in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania and made up of 33 islands, only 21 of which are inhabited. It is considered one of the least visited countries globally, with around 6,000 international visitors per year, making it a unique destination for those seeking tranquillity and peace. Tourism here is relatively underdeveloped with the economy largely reliant on exports of copra and coconuts.
Getting to Kiribati is somewhat of a challenge as only two airlines operate international flights to this small archipelagic state; Fiji Airways and Nauru Airlines.
The competitive tourism market in the Pacific and a lack of infrastructure to support large numbers of visitors are also likely reasons behind the lack of tourists.
The country, which was formerly a British colony and gained independence in 1979 and became a member of the United Nations in 1999. It is dotted with exquisite strips of sand and surrounded by dazzling turquoise waters.
Whilst the Kiribati language, also known as Gilbertese, is dominant, a large number of people in Kiribati speak English as it is one of the country’s official languages.
English was introduced by British colonisers before Kiribati’s independence in 1979 and is widely used in schools and businesses today.
The island is the world’s largest coral atoll, known for being a superb salt-water fishing spot. Its rich variety of wildlife includes the endemic “Christmas Island Warbler,” known among locals as the “Bokikokiko.”
The entire land area of Kiribati is a mere 811 square kilometres, making it smaller than New York City and one of the world’s smallest countries by land size.
Those who are tempted to visit this small island country can explore the uninhabited atolls and reef islands and enjoy the warm tropical climate.
This remote area of the world is the perfect place to go snorkelling, scuba diving and do a spot of fishing.