Island groups[edit]
Line Islands: Caroline Atoll channel between west side of Long Island and Nake Island.
Main article: Districts of Kiribati
There are a total of 21 inhabited islands in Kiribati. Kiribati was formally divided into districts until independence. The country is now divided into three island groups, including a group that unites the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands (ministry at London, Kiritimati) Island. The groups have no administrative function. Each inhabited island has its own council: three councils on Tarawa: Betio, South-Tarawa, North-Tarawa—and two councils on Tabiteuea). The original districts were:
Banaba
Tarawa Atoll
Northern Gilbert Islands
Central Gilbert Island
Southern Gilbert Islands
Line Islands.
The island groups include:
Gilbert Islands
Phoenix Islands, the second largest protected marine reserve in the world[31][32] since the establishment of the Chagos Archipelago as a marine reserve.
Line Islands.
Four of the former districts (including Tarawa) lie in the Gilbert Islands, where most of the country's population lives. Five of the Line Islands are uninhabited (Malden Island, Starbuck Island, Caroline Island, Vostok Island and Flint Island). The Phoenix Islands are uninhabited except for Kanton, and have no representation. Banaba itself is sparsely inhabited now. There is also a non-elected representative of the Banabans on Rabi Island in Fiji. Each of the 21 inhabited islands[2] has a local council that takes care of the daily affairs. Tarawa Atoll has three councils: Betio Town Council, Te Inainano Urban Council (for the rest of South Tarawa) and Eutan Tarawa Council (for North Tarawa).