Kiribati

Code: KR | Region: Australia Oceania

Introduction

Background

text

Kiribati is made up of three distinct island groups -- the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands, and the Phoenix Islands. The first Austronesian voyagers arrived in the Gilbert Islands as early as 3000 B.C., but these islands were not widely settled until about A.D. 200 by Micronesians. Around 1300, Samoans and Tongans invaded the southern Gilbert Islands, then known as Tungaru, bringing Polynesian cultural elements with them. Later arrivals of Fijians brought Melanesian elements to the Gilbert Islands, and extensive intermarriage between the Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian people led to the creation of what would become Gilbertese cultural traditions by the time Europeans spotted the islands in the 1600s. The Phoenix Islands and Line Islands were both visited by various Melanesian and Polynesian peoples, but their isolation and lack of natural resources meant that long-term settlements were not possible. Both island groups were uninhabited by the time of European contact. Kiribati experienced sustained European contact by the 1760s; all three island groups were named and charted by 1826. American whaling ships frequently passed through the islands, and the UK declared a protectorate over the Gilbert and nearby Ellice Islands in 1892, in an attempt to block growing US influence. Phosphate-rich Banaba Island was annexed to the protectorate in 1900. In 1916, the protectorate became a colony, and some Line Islands were added in 1916 and 1919, with the final ones added in 1972. The Phoenix Islands were added to the colony in 1937, and the UK agreed to share jurisdiction of some with the US because of their strategic location for aviation. During World War II, the islands were occupied by Japanese forces but were ejected by US amphibious assaults. The Ellice Islands became its own colony in 1974 and was renamed Tuvalu for “eight standing together” in 1975. The Gilbert Islands became fully self-governing in 1977 and independent in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati, the Gilbertese spelling of Gilberts. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Islands in a 1979 treaty of friendship. In 2012, Kiribati purchased a 22 sq km (8.5 sq mi) plot of land in Fiji for potential eventual resettlement of its population because of climate change, and in 2014 Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe BAINIMARAMA said residents of Kiribati would be welcome to relocate to Fiji if their country is swamped by rising sea levels.

Geography

Location

text

Oceania, group of 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates

text

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Map references

text

Oceania

Area

total

text

811 sq km

land

text

811 sq km

water

text

0 sq km

note

note: includes three island groups -- Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, and Phoenix Islands -- dispersed over about 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mi)

Area - comparative

text

four times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total

text

0 km

Coastline

text

1,143 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

text

12 nm

exclusive economic zone

text

200 nm

Climate

text

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain

text

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Elevation

highest point

text

unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m

lowest point

text

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

text

2 m

Natural resources

text

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish

Land use

agricultural land

text

42% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

text

arable land: 2.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

text

permanent crops: 39.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

text

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

text

1.3% (2023 est.)

other

text

56.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

text

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

text

consists of three archipelagos spread out over an area roughly the size of India; the eastern Line Islands and central Phoenix Islands are sparsely populated, but the western Gilbert Islands are some of the most densely settled places on earth, with the main island of South Tarawa boasting a population density similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong

Natural hazards

text

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Geography - note

text

21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean -- the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru; Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)

People and Society

Population

total

text

116,545 (2024 est.)

male

text

56,364

female

text

60,181

Nationality

noun

text

I-Kiribati (singular and plural)

adjective

text

Kiribati

Ethnic groups

text

I-Kiribati 95.78%, I-Kiribati/mixed 3.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Languages

text

Gilbertese, English (official)

Religions

text

Roman Catholic 58.9%, Kiribati Uniting Church 21.2%, Kiribati Protestant Church 8.4%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.1%, Baha'i 2.1%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years

text

26.8% (male 15,895/female 15,304)

15-64 years

text

67.9% (male 38,046/female 41,059)

65 years and over

text

5.4% (2024 est.) (male 2,423/female 3,818)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

text

47.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

text

39.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

text

7.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

text

12.7 (2024 est.)

Median age

total

text

27.7 years (2025 est.)

male

text

26.4 years

female

text

28.2 years

Population growth rate

text

0.98% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

text

19.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

text

6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

text

-2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

text

Urbanization

urban population

text

57.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

text

2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

text

64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

text

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years

text

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

text

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

text

0.63 male(s)/female

total population

text

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

text

23.1 years (2009 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio

text

80 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

text

30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

text

33.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female

text

29.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

text

68.5 years (2024 est.)

male

text

65.9 years

female

text

71.3 years

Total fertility rate

text

2.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

text

1.04 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

text

urban: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

text

rural: 59.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

text

total: 75.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

text

urban: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

text

rural: 40.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

text

total: 24.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

text

14.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

text

9.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

text

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Hospital bed density

text

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

text

urban: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

text

rural: 48.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

text

total: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

text

urban: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

text

rural: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

text

total: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

text

46% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

text

0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

text

0.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

text

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

text

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

text

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

text

35.4% (2025 est.)

male

text

48.4% (2025 est.)

female

text

23.6% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

text

6.9% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

text

67.4% (2020 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

text

2.4% (2019)

women married by age 18

text

18.4% (2019)

men married by age 18

text

8.6% (2019)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

text

16.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

text

20.1% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population

text

98.6% (2020 est.)

male

text

98.6% (2020 est.)

female

text

98.9% (2020 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

text

heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to overcrowding mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; coastal erosion

International environmental agreements

party to

text

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

text

none of the selected agreements

Climate

text

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Land use

agricultural land

text

42% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

text

arable land: 2.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

text

permanent crops: 39.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

text

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

text

1.3% (2023 est.)

other

text

56.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

text

57.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

text

2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

text

81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

text

81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

text

8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

text

35,700 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

text

15.4% (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

text

Republic of Kiribati

conventional short form

text

Kiribati

local long form

text

Republic of Kiribati

local short form

text

Kiribati

former

text

Gilbert Islands

etymology

text

the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilbert," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788

note

note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss

Government type

text

presidential republic

Capital

name

text

Tarawa

geographic coordinates

text

1 21 N, 173 02 E

time difference

text

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

text

Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14

etymology

text

the name is said to derive from the I-Kiribati words te (the) and rawa (run), referring to a channel through a nearby reef

Administrative divisions

text

3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; there are no first-order administrative divisions, but the 6 districts are Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa, with 21 island councils on Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina

Legal system

text

English common law supplemented by customary law

Constitution

history

text

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence)

amendment process

text

proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly; amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum

International law organization participation

text

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

text

citizenship by descent only

text

at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati

dual citizenship recognized

text

residency requirement for naturalization

text

7 years

Suffrage

text

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

text

President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)

head of government

text

President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)

cabinet

text

Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members

election/appointment process

text

president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms) by simple-majority popular vote, after candidates are nominated from among House of Assembly members; vice president appointed by the president

most recent election date

text

25 October 2024

election results

text

2024: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKP) 55%, Kaotitaake KOKORIA (independent) 42%, Bautaake BEIA (TKP) 3% 2020: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKP) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%

expected date of next election

text

2028

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch

legislature name

text

House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)

legislative structure

text

unicameral

number of seats

text

45 (44 directly elected; 1 appointed)

electoral system

text

plurality/majority

scope of elections

text

full renewal

term in office

text

4 years

most recent election date

text

8/14/2024 to 8/19/2024

percentage of women in chamber

text

11.1%

expected date of next election

text

August 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

text

High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)

judge selection and term of office

text

chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC); other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC

subordinate courts

text

Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts

Political parties

text

Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party or BKM Kiribati Moa Party or KMP Kamanoan Kiribati Party or KKP Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

text

Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

chancery

text

685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017

telephone

text

[1] (212) 867-3310

FAX

text

[1] (212) 867-3320

email address and website

text

Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

text

Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Kiribati as well as Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu

note

Note: the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati but has announced its intention to open an embassy

International organization participation

text

ABEDA, ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Independence

text

12 July 1979 (from the UK)

National holiday

text

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Flag

text

description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three wavy horizontal white stripes to represent the Pacific Ocean meaning: the white stripes represent the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix island groups; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom

National symbol(s)

text

frigatebird

National color(s)

text

red, white, blue, yellow

National anthem(s)

title

text

"Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)

lyrics/music

text

Urium Tamuera IOTEBA

history

text

adopted 1979

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

text

1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

text

Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Economy

Economic overview

text

lower-middle income, Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; sizable remittances; key phosphate mining fund; tourism and fishing industries; public sector-dominated economy; recent withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum; ongoing constitutional crisis

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

text

$438.143 million (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$416.221 million (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

text

$405.468 million (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

text

5.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

2.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

4.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$3,300 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$3,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

text

$3,100 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$307.863 million (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

9.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

5.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

text

2.1% (2021 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

text

27.8% (2022 est.)

industry

text

9.9% (2022 est.)

services

text

65.7% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

text

101.2% (2022 est.)

government consumption

text

61.7% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

text

19.1% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

text

1.3% (2022 est.)

exports of goods and services

text

7.6% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

text

-100.5% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

text

coconuts, bananas, vegetables, taro, tropical fruits, pork, chicken, nuts, eggs, pork offal (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

text

fishing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate

text

-6.2% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Population below poverty line

text

21.9% (2019 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

text

27.8 (2019 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

4% (2019 est.)

highest 10%

text

22.8% (2019 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2023

text

4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

text

4.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$260.557 million (2023 est.)

expenditures

text

$264.736 million (2023 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

22.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

text

17.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023

text

-$5.117 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$32.523 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2021

text

$20.251 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2023

text

$17.099 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$20.58 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

text

$10.754 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

text

Thailand 85%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, UAE 2%, Fiji 1% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

text

fish, coconut oil (2023)

note

note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Imports

Imports 2023

text

$293.624 million (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$272.004 million (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

text

$201.984 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

text

China 24%, Australia 20%, Fiji 15%, Japan 7%, NZ 6% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

ships, centrifuges, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

1.515 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

1.453 (2020 est.)

note

note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

94.4% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

86%

electrification - rural areas

text

94.3% (2020 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

12,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

27.388 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

5 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

81.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

18.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

500 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

8.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

0 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

(2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

70,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

49 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

text

multi-channel TV packages provide access to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2017)

Internet country code

text

.ki

Internet users

percent of population

text

88% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

0 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

(2023 est.) less than 1

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

21 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

text

74 (2023)

by type

text

bulk carrier 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 11, other 37

Ports

total ports

text

3 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

text

ports with oil terminals

text

key ports

text

Canton Island, English Harbor, Tarawa Atoll

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

Kiribati Police Service (includes Maritime Police) (2025)

Military - note

text

Australia, NZ, and the US have provided security assistance; Kiribati has a "ship rider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Kiribati's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; ship rider agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)