# Banaba Island

> island in the Pacific Ocean

**Wikidata**: [Q271901](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q271901)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaba)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/banaba-island

## Summary
Banaba Island is an isolated island in the central Pacific Ocean belonging to Kiribati, an independent island sovereign state composed of 33 atolls and reef islands including the Banaba, Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line island groups. Also known as Ocean Island, it serves as the highest point in Kiribati at 81 metres and marks the country's westernmost point. It shares the UTC+12:00 time zone with the Gilbert Islands.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Island in the Pacific Ocean; part of Kiribati (inception: July 12, 1979; independence qualifier); included in Kiribati's territory with Gilbert Islands, Phoenix Islands, and Line Islands
- **Parent Group**: Gilbert Islands (chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean; country: Kiribati)
- **Aliases**: Ocean Island
- **Coordinates**: -0.85944444444444° N, 169.53694444444° E (westernmost point of Kiribati: -0.86° N, 169.54° E)
- **Elevation**: Highest point in Kiribati at 81 metres (unnamed point on Banaba Island)
- **Time Zone**: UTC+12:00 (with Gilbert Islands; IANA time zone: Pacific/Tarawa)
- **Population Figures**: 268.0, 333.0, 301.0, 276.0, 339.0, 284.0, 46.0, 2201.0, 2314.0, 2192.0, 2706.0, 2060.0, 295.0, 1785.0, 2607.0
- **Website**: http://www.banaban.com
- **Sitelink Count**: 49
- **Wikipedia Title**: Banaba
- **Wikidata Description**: Island in the Pacific Ocean
- **Related Classification**: Island (piece of sub-continental land completely surrounded by water)
- **Kiribati Context**: Capital of Kiribati at South Tarawa; Kiribati area 811.0 square kilometres; population 134,518 (2024 estimate), 119,438 (2020 census); official languages English, Gilbertese; currency Kiribati dollar (from July 12, 1979), Australian dollar (from February 14, 1966); ISO 3166-1: KI (alpha-2), KIR (alpha-3), 296 (numeric); telephone code +686; TLD .ki; government republic; president Taneti Maamau (since March 11, 2016); legislature House of Assembly; motto "Te Mauri, te Raoi ao te Tabomoa"; anthem "Kunan Kiribati" (since 1979)

## FAQs
**Where is Banaba Island located and what is its relationship to Kiribati?**  
Banaba Island lies in the central Pacific Ocean as part of Kiribati, an archipelagic sovereign state that gained independence on July 12, 1979. It forms one of Kiribati's key island groups alongside Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line Islands, with precise coordinates at -0.85944444444444° N, 169.53694444444° E.

**What are the key geographical features of Banaba Island?**  
Banaba Island hosts Kiribati's highest elevation at 81 metres and serves as the nation's westernmost point at -0.86° N, 169.54° E. It operates on UTC+12:00, matching the Gilbert Islands time zone designated as Pacific/Tarawa.

**What population data exists for Banaba Island?**  
Recorded population figures for Banaba Island include 268.0, 333.0, 301.0, 276.0, 339.0, 284.0, 46.0, 2201.0, 2314.0, 2192.0, 2706.0, 2060.0, 295.0, 1785.0, and 2607.0, reflecting historical variations.

**What is the connection between Banaba Island and the Gilbert Islands?**  
Banaba Island is part of the Gilbert Islands, described as a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean within Kiribati, which has 245 sitelinks.

**How does Banaba Island fit into Kiribati's broader attributes?**  
Banaba contributes to Kiribati's span across the equator and 180th meridian, with shared infrastructure like 240V/50Hz mains voltage, AS/NZS 3112 plugs, left-side driving, and emergency numbers 999 (general), 192 (police), 193 (fire), 194/195 (medical).

## Why It Matters
Banaba Island anchors Kiribati's western boundary in the vast central Pacific, defining the archipelagic state's expansive reach that includes an immense Exclusive Economic Zone over 3.5 million square kilometres rich in marine resources. As the site of Kiribati's highest point at 81 metres amid otherwise low-lying atolls, it underscores the nation's vulnerability to sea-level rise, positioning Kiribati—and by extension Banaba—as a frontline advocate in global climate discussions for island nations. Its isolation within the Gilbert Islands chain and shared UTC+12:00 zone highlight Kiribati's unique time zone diversity, strategic shipping lanes placement, and historical nuclear testing legacy on nearby sites like Kiritimati, amplifying Banaba's role in Pacific geopolitics, nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and biodiversity protection through areas like the Phoenix Islands Protected Area.

## Notable For
- Highest elevation in Kiribati at 81 metres on an unnamed point
- Westernmost point of Kiribati territory at -0.86° N, 169.54° E
- Inclusion in Kiribati's hemisphere-spanning geography across equator and 180th meridian
- Shared UTC+12:00 time zone with Gilbert Islands as Pacific/Tarawa
- Alias as Ocean Island with dedicated website http://www.banaban.com
- Part of the sixteen-atoll Gilbert Islands chain
- Diverse historical population peaks like 2607.0 and lows like 46.0
- 49 sitelinks indicating notable digital presence
- Positioning within Kiribati's three time zones and vast EEZ

## Body
### Geographical Extent and Location
Banaba Island stands as an isolated island in the central Pacific Ocean, fully integrated into Kiribati, the Republic of Kiribati (Ribaberiki ni Kiribati). Kiribati qualifies as a sovereign state, island country, and archipelagic state in Insular Oceania, spanning Micronesia and Polynesia with coordinates around 1.4667° N, 173.0333° E. Banaba belongs to the Gilbert Islands chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands, though distinctly noted separately in Kiribati's groups: Banaba, Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line Islands. Its precise position marks -0.85944444444444° N, 169.53694444444° E, aligning with Kiribati's westernmost extremity at -0.86° N, 169.54° E. The island relates directly to the general "island" classification as a piece of sub-continental land surrounded by water. Kiribati's total land area measures 811.0 square kilometres, with Banaba contributing the peak elevation of 81 metres above the Pacific Ocean's sea-level low point.

### Time Zones and Infrastructure Ties
Banaba Island adheres to UTC+12:00, grouped with the Gilbert Islands under the IANA identifier Pacific/Tarawa. This fits Kiribati's three-zone system: UTC+13:00 for Phoenix Islands (Pacific/Kanton) and UTC+14:00 for Line Islands (Pacific/Kiritimati). Shared national infrastructure includes mains voltage at 240 volts, 50 hertz frequency, AS/NZS 3112 electrical plug type, left-side driving, telephone country code +686, and internet TLD .ki. Emergency services use 999 for general calls, 192 for police, 193 for fire, and 194/195 for medical.

### Population and Demographics
Banaba Island records multiple population values: 268.0, 333.0, 301.0, 276.0, 339.0, 284.0, 46.0, 2201.0, 2314.0, 2192.0, 2706.0, 2060.0, 295.0, 1785.0, 2607.0. These align with Kiribati's broader demographics: 134,518 (2024 estimate), 119,438 (2020 census), male 63,943 and female 67,289 (2022), rural 56,354, urban 74,878. National birth rate stood at 26.723 per 1,000, death rate 6.182 per 1,000 (2022), total fertility rate 3.73 (2014), life expectancy 68 years (2022). Demonyms include I-Kiribati; marriageable age 18 for all genders; official languages English and Gilbertese.

### Governance and Kiribati Integration
Banaba operates under Kiribati's republic government, with capital South Tarawa on Tarawa atoll, president Taneti Maamau since March 11, 2016, and unicameral House of Assembly since independence on July 12, 1979. Prior presidents: Ieremia Tabai (1979–1991), Teatao Teannaki (1991–1994), Teburoro Tito (1994–2003), Anote Tong (2003–2016). National identifiers: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 KI, alpha-3 KIR, numeric 296; currency Kiribati dollar (July 12, 1979) and Australian dollar (February 14, 1966); motto "Te Mauri, te Raoi ao te Tabomoa" (Health, Peace and Prosperity); anthem "Kunan Kiribati" (1979).

### Digital and Identifiers
Banaba Island carries 49 sitelinks, Wikipedia title "Banaba", and wikidata description "island in the Pacific Ocean". Its dedicated site is http://www.banaban.com. Kiribati-wide identifiers include Unicode 🇰🇮, GND ID 4073459-6, VIAF 147680945, ISNI 0000000404587152.

### Connected Entities and Broader Context
Banaba links to Kiribati (sitelink_count: 245) and Gilbert Islands (sitelink_count: 68; country: Kiribati). Kiribati joins United Nations (1999), Commonwealth (1979), Asian Development Bank (1974), IMF/World Bank (1986), UNESCO, WHO, Interpol (2018), and Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Diplomatic ties cover US (1980), Spain, Cuba, China (post-2019 Taiwan switch on September 20, 2019). Economic notes: GDP $223.35 million USD (2022), HDI 0.624 (2021), inequality-adjusted HDI 0.516, Gini 27.8 (2019); Freedom House "free".

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. 2020 Population and Housing. General Report and Results
3. 2005 Census of Population. Volume I: Basic information and tables
4. GeoNames
5. KBpedia