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
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
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references
Oceania
Area
total : 811 sq km
land: 811 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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)
comparison ranking: total 186
Area – comparative
four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
1,143 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation
highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish
Land use
agricultural land: 42% (2022 est.)
arable land: 2.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 39.5% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.5% (2022 est.)
other: 56.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
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
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
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: 116,545 (2024 est.)
male: 56,364
female: 60,181
comparison rankings: total 189; female 189; male 190
Nationality
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: Kiribati
Ethnic groups
I-Kiribati 95.78%, I-Kiribati/mixed 3.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)
Languages
Gilbertese, English (official)
Religions
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: 26.8% (male 15,895/female 15,304)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 38,046/female 41,059)
65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 2,423/female 3,818)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 39.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 27.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 26.4 years
female: 28.2 years
comparison ranking: total 160
Population growth rate
1% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 91
Birth rate
19.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 70
Death rate
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 125
Net migration rate
-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 176
Population distribution
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
Urbanization
urban population: 57.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
23.1 years (2009 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
76 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 79
Infant mortality rate
total: 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 45
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 65.9 years
female: 71.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 188
Total fertility rate
2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 91
Gross reproduction rate
1.05 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
33.5% (2018/19)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 97.2% of population
rural: 63.1% of population
total: 82% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.8% of population
rural: 36.9% of population
total: 18% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
14.8% of GDP (2021)
9.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Hospital bed density
1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 75.4% of population
rural: 45.4% of population
total: 62.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 24.6% of population
rural: 54.6% of population
total: 37.9% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
46% (2016)
comparison ranking: 9
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 165
Tobacco use
total: 35.4% (2025 est.)
male: 48.4% (2025 est.)
female: 23.6% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 9
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
6.9% (2018/19)
comparison ranking: 61
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
67.6% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 2.4% (2019)
women married by age 18: 18.4% (2019)
men married by age 18: 8.6% (2019)
Education expenditure
16.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
13.5% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 1
Literacy
total population: 98% (2018 est.) NA
male: 97.3% (2018 est.) NA
female: 98.6% (2018 est.) NA
Environment
Environment – current issues
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
Environment – international agreements
party to: 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: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Land use
agricultural land: 42% (2022 est.)
arable land: 2.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 39.5% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.5% (2022 est.)
other: 56.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 57.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.07 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 35,724 tons (2016 est.)
Total renewable water resources
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
local long form: Republic of Kiribati
local short form: Kiribati
former: Gilbert Islands
etymology: 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: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: 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: 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
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
English common law supplemented by customary law
Constitution
history: 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: 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
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
head of government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president
election results:
2020: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote – Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 45 (44 directly elected; 1 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 8/14/2024 to 8/19/2024
percentage of women in chamber: 11.1%
expected date of next election: August 2028
Judicial branch
highest court(s): High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)
judge selection and term of office: 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: Court of Appeal; magistrates’ courts
Political parties
Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (Supporting Kiribati First) or BKM
Tobwaan Kiribati Party (Embracing Kiribati) or TKP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018); note – also Permanent Representative to the UN
chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 867-3310
FAX: [1] (212) 867-3320
email address and website:
[email protected]
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: 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: the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati but has announced its intention to open an embassy
International organization participation
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
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Flag description
the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; 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)
frigatebird
National colors
red, white, blue, yellow
National anthem
name: “Teirake kaini Kiribati” (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
note: adopted 1979
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Economy
Economic overview
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)
$423.549 million (2023 est.)
$406.771 million (2022 est.)
$391.482 million (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 215
Real GDP growth rate
4.12% (2023 est.)
3.91% (2022 est.)
8.71% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 73
Real GDP per capita
$3,200 (2023 est.)
$3,100 (2022 est.)
$3,000 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 193
GDP (official exchange rate)
$279.209 million (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9.3% (2023 est.)
5.3% (2022 est.)
2.1% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 183
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 27.8% (2022 est.)
industry: 9.8% (2022 est.)
services: 65.5% (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: services 55; industry 195; agriculture 16
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 100.9% (2022 est.)
government consumption: 61.5% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.1% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.2% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services: 7.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -92.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
coconuts, bananas, vegetables, taro, tropical fruits, pork, chicken, nuts, eggs, pork offal (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate
-6.23% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 202
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 22.5% (2019 est.)
male: 21.2%
female: 24.6%
comparison ranking: total 50
Population below poverty line
21.9% (2019 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
27.8 (2019 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 139
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% (2019 est.)
highest 10%: 22.8% (2019 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
4.17% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.38% of GDP (2022 est.)
4.62% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $213.334 million (2022 est.)
expenditures: $221.12 million (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
26.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 175
Taxes and other revenues
18.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 98
Current account balance
-$5.117 million (2023 est.)
-$32.523 million (2022 est.)
$20.251 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 87
Exports
$17.099 million (2023 est.)
$20.58 million (2022 est.)
$10.754 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 217
Exports – partners
Thailand 85%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, UAE 2%, Fiji 1% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
fish, coconut oil (2023)
note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
Imports
$293.624 million (2023 est.)
$272.004 million (2022 est.)
$201.984 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 210
Imports – partners
China 24%, Australia 20%, Fiji 15%, Japan 7%, NZ 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
ships, centrifuges, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
1.515 (2024 est.)
1.505 (2023 est.)
1.442 (2022 est.)
1.331 (2021 est.)
1.453 (2020 est.)
note: the Australian dollar circulates as legal tender
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 94.4% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 86%
electrification – rural areas: 94.3% (2020 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 12,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 27.388 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 9; consumption 207; installed generating capacity 207
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 81.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 18.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 500 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 210
Energy consumption per capita
8.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 154
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 0 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 223
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 70,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 198
Broadcast media
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
.ki
Internet users
percent of population: 88% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 0 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 217
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
T3
Airports
21 (2025)
comparison ranking: 133
Merchant marine
total: 74 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 11, other 37
comparison ranking: total 104
Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Canton Island, English Harbor, Tarawa Atoll
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Kiribati Police Service (includes Maritime Police) (2025)
Military – note
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 (2024)
