Kiribati: President, 9 March 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of Kiribati

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003)
• Head of Government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003)
• Assembly: Kiribati has a unicameral Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (House of Assembly) composed of 46 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President of Kiribati is directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates among House of Assembly members to a 4-year term, with the possibility of 3 terms in total.

Last Election:

• The last presidential election in Kiribati was held on 13 January 2012. In that election, incumbent Anote TONG won with 35.84% of the vote, beating out Tetaua TAITAI of the Kamaeuraoan Tei-Kiribati party (KTK) and Rimeta BENIAMINA, who then ran for the Maurin Kiribati Pati (MKP).  

Main candidates in the election:

• Rimeta BENIAMINA
  • Party: Boutokaan Te Koaua (BTK)
• Tianeti IOANE
  • Party: Boutokaan Te Koaua (BTK)
• Taaneti MAMAU
  • Party: N/A (Running as the nominee of a newly formed coalition)

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 105,711 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 43,184

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 54,086

·         Is Kiribati a signatory to CEDAW: N/A

·         Has Kiribati ratified CEDAW: Yes, Accession (17 March 2004)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 3 (6.52%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 137 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A 

Disability Data:

·         Is Kiribati a signatory to CRPD: N/A

·         Has Kiribati ratified CRPD: Yes (27 September 2013)

·         Population with a disability: 15,857