Kiribati is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean, and is the only country in the world to be situated entirely on the equator. It is a republic, with a population of over 115, 000 people. The nation is composed of 33 atolls and reef islands, and is spread across 3.5 million square kilometers of ocean. Kiribati is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.