THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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.

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
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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 39.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
other: 56.7% (2023 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)

Population: total: 116,545 (2024 est.)
male: 56,364
female: 60,181
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)
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: 27.7 years (2025 est.)
male: 26.4 years
female: 28.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.98% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 80 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 65.9 years
female: 71.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.04 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 59.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 75.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 40.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 24.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 14.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 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: urban: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 48.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 46% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 35.4% (2025 est.)
male: 48.4% (2025 est.)
female: 23.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.9% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 67.4% (2020 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: Education expenditure (% GDP): 16.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.1% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy: total population: 98.6% (2020 est.)
male: 98.6% (2020 est.)
female: 98.9% (2020 est.)

Environmental 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
International environmental 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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 39.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
other: 56.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 57.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 35,700 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.4% (2022 est.)

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
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
election/appointment process: 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: 25 October 2024
election results: 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: 2028
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 or BKM Kiribati Moa Party or KMPKamanoan Kiribati Party or KKPTobwaan Kiribati Party 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: Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki
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
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 wavy horizontal white stripes to represent the Pacific Oceanmeaning: 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 color(s): red, white, blue, yellow
National anthem(s): title: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
history: adopted 1979
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Phoenix Islands Protected Area

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $438.143 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $416.221 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $405.468 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $307.863 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.1% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 27.8% (2022 est.)
industry: 9.9% (2022 est.)
services: 65.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 101.2% (2022 est.)
government consumption: 61.7% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.1% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.3% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services: 7.6% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services: -100.5% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, bananas, vegetables, taro, tropical fruits, pork, chicken, nuts, eggs, pork offal (2023)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: -6.2% (2022 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.9% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 27.8 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4% (2019 est.)
highest 10%: 22.8% (2019 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 4.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $260.557 million (2023 est.)
expenditures: $264.736 million (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 22.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: -$5.117 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$32.523 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $20.251 million (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $17.099 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $20.58 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $10.754 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 85%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, UAE 2%, Fiji 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, coconut oil (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $293.624 million (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $272.004 million (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $201.984 million (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 24%, Australia 20%, Fiji 15%, Japan 7%, NZ 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, centrifuges, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar (2023)
Exchange rates: Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

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.)
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.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 0 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 70,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2022 est.)
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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T3
Airports: 21 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 74 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 11, other 37
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 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 (2025)

Kiribati