Urban and rural population in Kiribati
Kiribati: Urban and rural population was 86,513 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
86,513
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
189th
of 236 countries
All-time high
86,513
in 2025
All-time low
3,985
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Kiribati, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kiribati recorded 86,513 for urban and rural population 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, urban and rural population in Kiribati peaked at 86,513 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,985, 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.
Urban and rural population in Kiribati, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,985 | — |
| 1951 | 4,242 | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 4,499 | +6.1% |
| 1953 | 4,760 | +5.8% |
| 1954 | 5,031 | +5.7% |
| 1955 | 5,317 | +5.7% |
| 1956 | 5,624 | +5.8% |
| 1957 | 5,956 | +5.9% |
| 1958 | 6,320 | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 6,724 | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 7,177 | +6.7% |
| 1961 | 7,737 | +7.8% |
| 1962 | 8,438 | +9.1% |
| 1963 | 9,247 | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 10,134 | +9.6% |
| 1965 | 11,064 | +9.2% |
| 1966 | 11,906 | +7.6% |
| 1967 | 12,591 | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 13,143 | +4.4% |
| 1969 | 13,633 | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 14,109 | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 14,550 | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 15,002 | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 15,498 | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 16,002 | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 16,709 | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 17,573 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 18,379 | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 18,905 | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 19,325 | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 19,834 | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 20,303 | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 20,762 | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 21,224 | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 21,708 | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 22,293 | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 23,007 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 23,775 | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 24,564 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 25,374 | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 26,189 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 26,925 | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 27,554 | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 28,159 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 28,798 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 29,515 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 30,613 | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 32,483 | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 34,720 | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 36,852 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 38,394 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 39,276 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 40,134 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 40,976 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 41,820 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 42,689 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 43,743 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 45,544 | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 47,886 | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 50,413 | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 52,678 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 54,353 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 55,670 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 56,883 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 58,114 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 59,522 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 61,337 | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 63,713 | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 66,536 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 69,748 | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 73,657 | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 76,560 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 79,030 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 81,538 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 84,023 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 86,513 | +3.0% |
Kiribati compared with similar countries
- Kiribati's 86,513 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kiribati's 86,513 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007, 12% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5,246 | 3,985 | 6,724 | 10 |
| 1960s | 10,507 | 7,177 | 13,633 | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,605 | 14,109 | 19,325 | 10 |
| 1980s | 22,284 | 19,834 | 25,374 | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,181 | 26,189 | 36,852 | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,087 | 38,394 | 50,413 | 10 |
| 2010s | 59,856 | 52,678 | 69,748 | 10 |
| 2020s | 80,220 | 73,657 | 86,513 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
- 186 Barbados 168,725 compare
- 187 Sao Tome and Principe 166,189 compare
- 188 Guam 159,230 compare
- 190 United States Virgin Islands 80,258 compare
- 191 Cayman Islands 75,844 compare
- 192 Vanuatu 74,816 compare
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)
- Population growth rate -0.006 (2100)
- Population density 274.88 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 14,189 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Kiribati?
- Urban and rural population in Kiribati was 86,513 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 86,513 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,985 in 1950.
- How does Kiribati rank for urban and rural population?
- Kiribati ranks 189th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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