The Republic of Kiribati is located in the central Pacific Ocean, 2,400 miles (3,855 km) southeast of Hawaii. Its population of 100,000 is spread over its 33 atolls and reef islands.

Those islands and atolls straddle the Equator, thus placing the country in both the southern and northern hemispheres. It also straddles the 180th meridian, also placing it in both the eastern and western hemispheres.

The International Date Line takes a detour on its way from the north to the south, thus keeping all of Kiribati’s islands on the same day.