GeoRealityMatch
Miniature toy ships placed on a map of the South Pacific Ocean, featuring Kiribati.Tranquil view of a tropical beach with palm trees and clear skies on Fuvahmulah Island in the Maldives.

Kiribati

Oceania · Micronesia

Medium development

The air is clean. Access to essential health services is patchy.

Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$3,930national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 128% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 49% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,937 PPP$2,559Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $1,123 a person, $1,728 at PPP2007, $1,353 a person, $1,792 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2008, $1,411 a person, $1,735 at PPP, inflation 13.7%2009, $1,317 a person, $1,718 at PPP, inflation 9.8%2010, $1,522 a person, $1,724 at PPP, inflation -3.9%2011, $1,771 a person, $1,786 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2012, $1,844 a person, $1,896 at PPP, inflation -3%2013, $1,772 a person, $2,049 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2014, $1,737 a person, $2,084 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2015, $1,640 a person, $2,311 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2016, $1,743 a person, $2,463 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2017, $1,854 a person, $2,561 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2018, $1,916 a person, $2,669 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2019, $1,750 a person, $2,762 at PPP, inflation -1.8%2020, $1,752 a person, $2,715 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2021, $2,224 a person, $3,024 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2022, $2,079 a person, $3,350 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2023, $2,201 a person, $3,527 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2024, $2,551 a person, $3,728 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2025, $2,559 a person, $3,937 at PPP$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $1,123 a person, $1,728 at PPP2007, $1,353 a person, $1,792 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2008, $1,411 a person, $1,735 at PPP, inflation 13.7%2009, $1,317 a person, $1,718 at PPP, inflation 9.8%2010, $1,522 a person, $1,724 at PPP, inflation -3.9%2011, $1,771 a person, $1,786 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2012, $1,844 a person, $1,896 at PPP, inflation -3%2013, $1,772 a person, $2,049 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2014, $1,737 a person, $2,084 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2015, $1,640 a person, $2,311 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2016, $1,743 a person, $2,463 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2017, $1,854 a person, $2,561 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2018, $1,916 a person, $2,669 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2019, $1,750 a person, $2,762 at PPP, inflation -1.8%2020, $1,752 a person, $2,715 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2021, $2,224 a person, $3,024 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2022, $2,079 a person, $3,350 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2023, $2,201 a person, $3,527 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2024, $2,551 a person, $3,728 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2025, $2,559 a person, $3,937 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
66.6years, at birthLow
#158 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
51WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.7PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Tranquil view of a tropical beach with palm trees and clear skies on Fuvahmulah Island in the Maldives.
How it changed

Kiribati's Human Development Index

0.644Medium human development

140th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 10th of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #138Republic of the Congo0.649
  2. #139Honduras0.645
  3. #140Kiribati0.644
  4. #141São Tomé and Príncipe0.637
  5. #142Timor-Leste0.634
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.588 in 2005 to 0.644 in 2023.

0.550.630.700.6442005201020232005: 0.5882006: 0.5932007: 0.5962008: 0.5962009: 0.5982010: 0.6002011: 0.6032012: 0.6082013: 0.6132014: 0.6152015: 0.6232016: 0.6272017: 0.6302018: 0.6332019: 0.6352020: 0.6322021: 0.6312022: 0.6422023: 0.6440.550.630.702005201020232005: 0.5882006: 0.5932007: 0.5962008: 0.5962009: 0.5982010: 0.6002011: 0.6032012: 0.6082013: 0.6132014: 0.6152015: 0.6232016: 0.6272017: 0.6302018: 0.6332019: 0.6352020: 0.6322021: 0.6312022: 0.6422023: 0.644

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
66.6 years2024at birthUp 1.1 years from 65.5 years in 2005
Internet users
89%2024of people onlineUp 85 points from 5% in 2006
Urban population
63%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 20 points from 44% in 2006
Births per woman
3.122024births per womanDown 0.64 from 3.76 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
42%2022of energy usedDown 9 points from 51% in 2004
Access to electricity
98%2024of people with electricityUp 28 points from 70% in 2005
Infant mortality
392024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 6 from 45 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
1%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

The case for living here is clean air. The case against is patchy access to essential health services, low incomes and short lives.

About Kiribati

Kiribati is one of the most remote and low-lying nations on earth, a Pacific island nation scattered across 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean, with a culture deeply tied to the sea and a simple, unhurried way of life shaped by isolation. The atolls are surrounded by some of the most pristine and fish-rich waters in the Pacific. It suits travellers who come specifically for diving, fishing, or experiencing genuine remoteness, not comfort or convenience.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSouth Tarawa
  • LanguagesEnglish, Gilbertese
  • CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
  • Area810 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Kiribati's Human Development Index?

Kiribati's Human Development Index is 0.644 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #140 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in Kiribati?

Life expectancy at birth in Kiribati is 66.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #158 of 195 countries.