The Most Famous
POLITICIANS from Kiribati
This page contains a list of the greatest I-Kiribati Politicians. The pantheon dataset contains 15,577 Politicians, 3 of which were born in Kiribati. This makes Kiribati the birth place of the 194th most number of Politicians behind Eritrea, and Czech Republic.
Top 5
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary I-Kiribati Politicians of all time. This list of famous I-Kiribati Politicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Anote Tong (b. 1952)
With an HPI of 54.93, Anote Tong is the most famous I-Kiribati Politician. His biography has been translated into 39 different languages on wikipedia.
Anote Tong (simplified Chinese: 汤安诺; traditional Chinese: 湯安諾; pinyin: Tāng Ānnuò; born 11 June 1952 in Tabuaeran, Line Islands) is an I-Kiribati politician for the Pillars of Truth party and environmental activist with half Chinese heritage, who served as the fourth president of Kiribati, from 2003 to 2016. He won the election in July 2003 with a slim plurality of votes cast (47.4%) against his older brother, Harry Tong (43.5%) and the private lawyer Banuera Berina (9.1%). The elections were contested by the opposition, due to allegations of electoral fraud but the High Court of Tarawa had confirmed that there was no fraud. He was re-elected on 17 October 2007 for a second term (64%). In 2012, Tong was reelected for a third term, although with a significantly smaller percentage than in the previous two elections. Tong is primarily known abroad for his efforts to raise "global awareness on the threat posed by climate change", and was dubbed the "Mahatma Gandhi of the Pacific" by Grammy Award Winner Ricky Kej.
2. Taneti Mamau (b. 1960)
With an HPI of 50.94, Taneti Mamau is the 2nd most famous I-Kiribati Politician. His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.
Taneti Maamau (modern spelling: Taaneti Mwamwau; born 16 September 1960) is an I-Kiribati politician who has served as the sixth president of Kiribati since 11 March 2016.
3. Teatao Teannaki (1936 - 2016)
With an HPI of 45.89, Teatao Teannaki is the 3rd most famous I-Kiribati Politician. His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Teatao Teannaki (15 June 1935 – 11 October 2016) was an I-Kiribati political figure who served as the second president of Kiribati from 1991 until 1994. He was first elected to represent Abaiang in the House of Assembly of the Gilbert Islands. Teatao Teannaki, Minister of State in the previous government of Chief Minister Naboua Ratieta, became Minister for Education, Training and Culture in March 1978. At independence on 12 July 1979, Tabai immediately nominated Teannaki as vice-president. He served as vice president of Kiribati under the three mandates of Sir Ieremia Tabai. He would also serve as the Minister of Home Affairs in 1987, and as Minister of Finance from 1987 to 1991. Replacing Babera Kirata, suddenly dead before the general election, he was narrowly elected to replace Tabai as the President of Kiribati on behalf of the National Progressive Party of Kiribati from 8 July 1991 until 1 October 1994. It is said that Tabai continued to exert political influence in the Kiribati government throughout Teannaki's term. Teannaki also served as Foreign Minister beginning in 1992. He was succeeded by Teburoro Tito after defeat in a September 1994 election. Teannaki was at the helm of the National Progressive Party as of July 2015. Teannaki died in a maneaba namely Ueen Abaiang during a meeting with the Unimane of Abaiang Called " te Ie nao" (following a heart attack on 11 October 2016. at the age of 80.
4. Ieremia Tabai (b. 1949)
With an HPI of 44.43, Ieremia Tabai is the 4th most famous I-Kiribati Politician. His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.
Ieremia Tienang Tabai (modern spelling: Tabwai; born 16 December 1949) is an I-Kiribati politician who served as the first president of Kiribati, after being the youngest ever chief minister of the Commonwealth of Nations and then becoming the youngest ever head of State. During his presidency, he was described as being the most able leader of the Pacific island states.
5. Teburoro Tito (b. 1953)
With an HPI of 44.23, Teburoro Tito is the 5th most famous I-Kiribati Politician. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Teburoro Tito (modern spelling Tiito, pronounced Seetoh; born 25 August 1953) is an I-Kiribati politician who served as the third president of Kiribati and foreign minister from 1 October 1994 to 28 March 2003. He was elected for the first time in 1994. He was reelected in 1998 with 52% of the vote. His main opponent was Harry Tong. Tito was reelected again in February 2003 with 50.4% of the vote. His main opponent was then Taberannang Timeon. Tito, however, was deposed by the Parliament in a no confidence vote just one month after his reelection. One of the main reasons for his ejection was his decision to lease an ATR-72-500 aircraft at the government's expense; this lease cost A$8 million during the first six months. President Tito, through his speeches at the UN, interviews with international news media and his active participation at International Climate conferences, began the process of highlighting the detrimental effects of global warming on his and other South Pacific island nations. He also brought his country into the limelight during the 2000 Millennium festivities, by causing it to be the first country to "see tomorrow," after moving the international date line in 1995. He was appointed by President Taneti Maamau as Ambassador to the United States (24 January 2018) and Kiribati Permanent Representative to the United Nations (13 September 2017).
People
Pantheon has 5 people classified as I-Kiribati politicians born between 1936 and 1960. Of these 5, 4 (80.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living I-Kiribati politicians include Anote Tong, Taneti Mamau, and Ieremia Tabai. The most famous deceased I-Kiribati politicians include Teatao Teannaki. As of April 2024, 2 new I-Kiribati politicians have been added to Pantheon including Teatao Teannaki, and Ieremia Tabai.
Living I-Kiribati Politicians
Go to all Rankings
Anote Tong
1952 - Present
HPI: 54.93
Taneti Mamau
1960 - Present
HPI: 50.94
Ieremia Tabai
1949 - Present
HPI: 44.43
Teburoro Tito
1953 - Present
HPI: 44.23
