Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Kiribati
Kiribati: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 86,513 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
86,513 people
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
189th
of 236 countries
All-time high
86,513 people
in 2025
All-time low
3,985 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Kiribati, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Kiribati recorded 86,513 people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 45.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Kiribati peaked at 86,513 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,985 people, in 1950.
That places Kiribati 189th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Kiribati, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,985 people | — |
| 1951 | 4,242 people | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 4,499 people | +6.1% |
| 1953 | 4,760 people | +5.8% |
| 1954 | 5,031 people | +5.7% |
| 1955 | 5,317 people | +5.7% |
| 1956 | 5,624 people | +5.8% |
| 1957 | 5,956 people | +5.9% |
| 1958 | 6,320 people | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 6,724 people | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 7,177 people | +6.7% |
| 1961 | 7,737 people | +7.8% |
| 1962 | 8,438 people | +9.1% |
| 1963 | 9,247 people | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 10,134 people | +9.6% |
| 1965 | 11,064 people | +9.2% |
| 1966 | 11,906 people | +7.6% |
| 1967 | 12,591 people | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 13,143 people | +4.4% |
| 1969 | 13,633 people | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 14,109 people | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 14,550 people | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 15,002 people | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 15,498 people | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 16,002 people | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 16,709 people | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 17,573 people | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 18,379 people | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 18,905 people | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 19,325 people | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 19,834 people | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 20,303 people | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 20,762 people | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 21,224 people | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 21,708 people | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 22,293 people | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 23,007 people | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 23,775 people | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 24,564 people | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 25,374 people | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 26,189 people | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 26,925 people | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 27,554 people | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 28,159 people | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 28,798 people | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 29,515 people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 30,613 people | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 32,483 people | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 34,720 people | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 36,852 people | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 38,394 people | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 39,276 people | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 40,134 people | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 40,976 people | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 41,820 people | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 42,689 people | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 43,743 people | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 45,544 people | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 47,886 people | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 50,413 people | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 52,678 people | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 54,353 people | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 55,670 people | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 56,883 people | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 58,114 people | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 59,522 people | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 61,337 people | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 63,713 people | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 66,536 people | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 69,748 people | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 73,657 people | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 76,560 people | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 79,030 people | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 81,538 people | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 84,023 people | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 86,513 people | +3.0% |
Kiribati compared with similar countries
- Kiribati's 86,513 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kiribati's 86,513 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007 people, 12% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5,246 people | 3,985 people | 6,724 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 10,507 people | 7,177 people | 13,633 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,605 people | 14,109 people | 19,325 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 22,284 people | 19,834 people | 25,374 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,181 people | 26,189 people | 36,852 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,087 people | 38,394 people | 50,413 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 59,856 people | 52,678 people | 69,748 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 80,220 people | 73,657 people | 86,513 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
- 186 Barbados 168,725 people compare
- 187 Sao Tome and Principe 166,189 people compare
- 188 Guam 159,230 people compare
- 190 United States Virgin Islands 80,258 people compare
- 191 Cayman Islands 75,844 people compare
- 192 Vanuatu 74,816 people compare
More population data for Kiribati
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0327 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 14,189 people (2100)
- Population density 274.88 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4909 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.43 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Kiribati?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Kiribati was 86,513 people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 86,513 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,985 people in 1950.
- How does Kiribati rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Kiribati ranks 189th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Kiribati?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kiribati data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.