Who runs local government in Kiribati?
Kiribati has one level of local government: an elected council on every inhabited island, with three urban councils on Tarawa and Kiritimati. These councils work alongside a strong traditional authority, the unimane (council of old men) who meet in each village's maneaba (meeting house) and hold a reserved seat on their island council.
Republic of Kiribati · Unitary presidential republic · Oceania
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Island councils (23) and urban councils (3: Betio, Teinainano Urban Council on South Tarawa, Kiritimati) | Councillors elected by residents; plus nominated members, including the unimane representative | Pre-schools, primary health care, sanitation, water, local roads and by-laws. |
| Villages (about 180) | Village life led by the maneaba and unimane by custom | Community decisions, land matters and village rules. |
Three questions about local power in Kiribati
Are local leaders elected?
Island and urban councillors are elected. Unimane are recognised by age and standing, not by vote, and sit on councils as nominated members.
Which laws set up local government?
Local government is set up by the Local Government Act 1984 (amended 2006) and mentioned in the Constitution. The maneaba system is custom, partly built into councils through nominated seats.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Councillors face elections. The Ministry of Internal Affairs approves council budgets and can suspend councils; it has done so in cases of corruption.
Traditional and customary authority
Each village has a maneaba, the meeting house where the unimane (elder men) make community decisions by custom. The unimane are well respected and have a reserved, nominated seat on each island council, so they can influence council decisions. Land is mostly held by families under customary tenure. The Constitution gives Banabans (people from Banaba, many of whom live on Rabi Island in Fiji) special rights, including a seat in parliament nominated by the Rabi Council.
Community and neighbourhood power
Churches, women's groups and youth groups linked to the maneaba organise much of community life. Village welfare groups and church congregations raise money and organise work on the outer islands.
Points to know
- Kiribati's 33 islands are spread over a huge area of ocean, which makes services on outer islands difficult.
- Local government spending was about 1% of government spending in 2015.
- Banaba Island has its own council even though most Banabans live in Fiji.
Local terms
- Maneaba
- The traditional meeting house at the centre of village decision-making.
- Unimane
- Elder men who lead village decisions by custom.
Sources
- Constitution of Kiribati 1979 (rev. 2018) (English text), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- The Local Government System in Kiribati: Country Profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), checked 14 October 2026
See also: Kiribati's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.