Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati
Kiribati: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 42,181 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati is 42,181 people, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati peaked at 52,774 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 28,877 people, in 1950.
Kiribati ranks 183rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 28,877 people | — |
| 1955 | 31,138 people | +7.8% |
| 1960 | 33,731 people | +8.3% |
| 1965 | 36,694 people | +8.8% |
| 1970 | 38,296 people | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 39,375 people | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 42,572 people | +8.1% |
| 1985 | 44,616 people | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 48,169 people | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 50,082 people | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 49,192 people | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 52,269 people | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 52,774 people | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 50,618 people | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 42,181 people | -16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30,008 people | 28,877 people | 31,138 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 35,212 people | 33,731 people | 36,694 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 38,835 people | 38,296 people | 39,375 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 43,594 people | 42,572 people | 44,616 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 49,126 people | 48,169 people | 50,082 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 50,730 people | 49,192 people | 52,269 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 51,696 people | 50,618 people | 52,774 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 42,181 people | 42,181 people | 42,181 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
More population data for Kiribati
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7128 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0327 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 188.57 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.43 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4909 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 274.88 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 14,189 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Kiribati was 42,181 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 52,774 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,877 people in 1950.
- How does Kiribati rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Kiribati ranks 183rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Kiribati?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kiribati data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.