Editing Gilbert and Ellice Islands (section)

{{short description|1892–1976 British colony in the Pacific}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox country
| native_name            = 
| conventional_long_name = Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony
| common_name            = Gilbert and Ellice Islands
| era                    = 
| empire                 = British Empire
| event_start            = Protectorate
| year_start             = 1892
| date_start             = 
| event1                 = Colony
| date_event1            = 12 January 1916
| event2                 = 
| date_event2            = 
| event_end              = Separation
| year_end               = 1976
| date_end               = 1 January
| p1                     = British Western Pacific Territories{{!}}'''1892''':<br />British Western Pacific Territories
| flag_p1                = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
| p3                     = Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands{{!}}'''1945''':<br />Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands
| flag_p2                = Kingdom of Abemama Flag.svg
| p2                     = Kingdom of Abemama
| flag_p3                = Flag of Japan (1870–1999).svg
| s1                     = Canton and Enderbury Islands{{!}}'''1939''':<br />Canton and Enderbury Islands
| flag_s1                = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
| s2                     = Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands{{!}}'''1941''':<br />Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands
| flag_s2                = Flag of Japan (1870–1999).svg
| s3                     = Tokelau{{!}}'''1949''':<br />Union Islands
| flag_s3                = Flag of New Zealand.svg
| s4                     = Gilbert Islands{{!}}'''1976''':<br />Gilbert Islands
| flag_s4                = Flag of the Gilbert Islands (1976–1979).svg
| s5                     = Colony of Tuvalu
| flag_s5                = Flag of Tuvalu (1976–1978).svg
| flag                   = Flag of Kiribati
| flag_type              = 
| image_flag             = Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937–1976).svg
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1979).svg
| symbol_type            = [[Coat of arms of Kiribati|Coat of arms]]
| image_map              = LocationGilbertandEllice.png
| image_map_caption      = 
| capital                = [[Tarawa]]<br />(1895–1908 & 1946–1976)<br />[[Banaba|Ocean Island]] (1908–1942)<br />[[Funafuti]] (1942–1946)
| national_motto         = 
| national_anthem        = "[[God Save the King/Queen]]"{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - God Save the Queen.ogg]]}}
| common_languages       = [[English language|English]] (official)<br />[[Gilbertese language|Gilbertese]]<br />[[Tuvaluan language|Ellicean]]<br />[[Tokelauan language|Tokelauan]]
| demonym                = Gilbertese and Ellicean
| title_leader           = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch]]
| leader1                = [[Queen Victoria|Victoria]] (first)
| year_leader1           = 1892–1901
| leader2                = [[Elizabeth II]] (last)
| year_leader2           = 1952–1976
| title_representative   = [[Governor of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands|Governor]]
| representative1        = [[Charles Richard Swayne]] (first)
| year_representative1   = 1892–1895
| representative2        = [[John Hilary Smith]] (last)
| year_representative2   = 1973–1976
| religion               = 
| stat_area1             = 
| stat_pop1              = 26,430
| stat_year1             = 1892
| stat_pop2              = 33,713
| stat_year2             = 1935
| stat_pop3              = 34,433
| stat_year3             = 1936
| stat_pop4              = 53,517
| stat_year4             = 1968
| currency               = [[Pound sterling]] (1892–1910)<br />[[Australian pound]] (1910–66)<br />[[Australian dollar]] (1966–76)
| status                 = [[Protectorate]] of the [[United Kingdom]] (1892–1916)<br />[[Crown colony|Colony]] of the United Kingdom (1916–1976)
| footnotes              = 
| today                  = [[Kiribati]]<br />[[Tokelau]] ([[New Zealand|NZ]])<br />[[Tuvalu]]
| area_km2               = 
| area_rank              = 
| GDP_PPP                = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 
| HDI                    = 
| HDI_year               = 
}}

The '''Gilbert and Ellice Islands''' ('''GEIC''' as a colony) in the Pacific Ocean was part of the [[British Empire]] from 1892 to 1976. It was a [[British protectorate|protectorate]] from 1892 to 12 January 1916, and then a [[crown colony|colony]] until 1 January 1976, and was administered as part of the [[British Western Pacific Territories]] (BWPT) until it became independent as two separate states. The history of GEIC was mainly characterized by [[phosphate mining in Banaba and Nauru|phosphate mining on Ocean Island]]. In October 1975, these islands were divided by force of law into two separate colonies, and they became independent nations shortly thereafter: the Ellice Islands became [[Tuvalu]] in 1978, and the [[Gilbert Islands]] with [[Banaba]] (Ocean Island) became part of [[Kiribati]] in 1979.