South Tarawa

South Tarawa, referred to in Gilbertese as Tarawa Teinainano, functions as the dynamic capital and core nucleus of the Republic of Kiribati. More than simply the administrative hub, this special location—home to almost half of Kiribati’s population—is the nation’s throbbing core. With 63,439 people as of 2020, South Tarawa reflects its importance as a busy metropolitan area. From Betio in the west to Bonriki and Tanaea in the northeast, the population center spans a sequence of little islets all easily accessible by the South Tarawa main road.

In Kiribati, South Tarawa is the core of government, business, and education. Along with the State House, Government Ministries, and several foreign embassies in Bairiki, it hosts the Port and the High Court housed in Betio. With the University of the South Pacific campus in Teaoraereke, the House of Assembly in Ambo, and important educational institutions such as the Kiribati Teacher College and the King George V and Elaine Bernacchi School in Bikenibeu, the educational scene is similarly remarkable. While religious diversity is celebrated with the Roman Catholic Diocese in Teaoraereke, the Kiribati Uniting Church in Antebuka, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kiribati in Bikenibeu, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eita, the Tungaru Central Hospital in Nawerewere guarantees that healthcare needs are met.

Geographically, South Tarawa is a remarkable series of islets on the Tarawa Lagoon atoll, tucked between the great Pacific Ocean to the south and the Tarawa Lagoon to the north. Whereas the ocean drops to an amazing 4,000 meters, the lagoon reaches depths of up to 25 meters. These islets arise from lagoon-depended sediments, a process shaped by the main easterly trade winds. But with protracted westerly winds, especially during El Niño–Southern Oscillations, this soil buildup can be undone.

Causeways link the islets together to form a continuous landmass on the southern side of the Tarawa Lagoon. South Tarawa is still a delicate ecosystem despite development; most of the sections have an average width of only 450 meters and lie less than 3 meters above sea level. This fragile equilibrium emphasizes the difficulties the society faces in the framework of growing sea levels and climate change.

South Tarawa’s demography has changed remarkably. Just 17,921 people lived there in the 1978 Census, mostly in Betio, Bairiki, and Bikenibeu. The population of Kiribati has more than quadrupled since it acquired its independence in 1979, turning South Tarawa into a highly urban area. With Buota in North Tarawa also fast growing, the town now stretches from Tanaea in the northeast to Betio in the southwest.

South Tarawa is Kiribati’s powerhouse economically. Along with many of state-owned companies and other firms, it has the primary airport and port. With processing facilities in Betio generating copra oil for global markets, the economy mostly depends on copra output. A fish processing factory also exports tuna, therefore supporting the nearby businesses. But imports much outweigh exports, and many homes rely on government jobs and remittances from family abroad.

South Tarawa has major problems, especially with regard to employment, notwithstanding its economic importance. Just 34% of urban people over the age of 15 were engaged in monetary labor as of 2010, leaving a sizable fraction either jobless or active in subsistence pursuits. Among young people, who battle to find work, this problem is especially acute. Dealing with these issues calls for strategic planning and infrastructure and education investment to fully use the young population of South Tarawa.