Tarawa is an atoll and the capital city of the Republic of Kiribati. Located in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean, it serves as a primary administrative and population center for the nation.
The atoll is divided into two main sections: North Tarawa and South Tarawa. While North Tarawa has a smaller population of 6,629 inhabitants and shares characteristics with other remote islands in the Gilbert group, South Tarawa is significantly more populous. As of 2015, South Tarawa had a population of 56,388, accounting for approximately half of the total population of Kiribati.
Historically, the atoll is notable for being the site of the Battle of Tarawa during World War II.