The Republic of Kiribati's capital, Tarawa, is located on an atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is made up of North Tarawa, which has 6,629 people and is similar to other, more remote islands in the Gilberts group. South Tarawa, as of 2015 had 56,388 people, or half of the country's total population. Tarawa is an ancient Gilbertese form for Te Rawa, meaning "The Passage," since Tarawa is quite a unique atoll in Kiribati, having a big ship passage or canal to the lagoon.