Kiribati at its true size
Kiribati covers 811 km², number 172 of 194 countries by area. Home to 136,488 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50mRemote islands and overseas parts not drawn; the figures include them
| Area | 811 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 136,488 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 168 per km² |
| Capital | Tarawa |
| Local time in Tarawa | |
| Time zone | UTC+12 · UTC+12 to UTC+14, 3 time zones IANA |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) Wikidata |
| Languages | English, Gilbertese |
| Traffic | On the left |
| Region | Micronesia, Oceania |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Has a coastline |
| Calling code | +686 |
| Codes | KI · KIR · 296 |
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Where Kiribati ranks
Among the independent states, in 35 rankings. Each links to its table.
People
- Population#178 of 194136,488 people#8 of 13 in Oceania
- Population density#56 of 194168 people per km²#3 of 13 in Oceania
- Urban population#95 of 19263% urban#6 of 13 in Oceania
- Fertility rate#51 of 1923.12 births per woman#5 of 13 in Oceania
- Population growth#70 of 192+1.45% a year#5 of 13 in Oceania
- Birth rate#49 of 19225.3 births per 1,000 people#3 of 13 in Oceania
- Death rate#97 of 1927.1 deaths per 1,000 people#5 of 13 in Oceania
- Children under 15#52 of 19234.4% under 15#6 of 13 in Oceania
- People over 65#134 of 1924.4% aged 65 and over#9 of 13 in Oceania
- Net migration#163 of 192−3.4 per 1,000 people#7 of 13 in Oceania
- Refugees abroad#134 of 1900.04 refugees abroad per 1,000 people#8 of 13 in Oceania
Health & education
Economy
- GNI per capita#126 of 185$3,930 a person#11 of 13 in Oceania
- Internet users#60 of 18489% online#3 of 11 in Oceania
- GDP per capita (PPP)#162 of 184$3,937 a person#12 of 13 in Oceania
- GDP growth#65 of 187+4.2% a year#3 of 13 in Oceania
- Inflation#35 of 176+6.5% a year#1 of 11 in Oceania
- Extreme poverty#88 of 1490.9% under $3.00 a day#4 of 6 in Oceania
- Income inequality (Gini)#145 of 149a Gini index of 24.7#6 of 6 in Oceania
- Foreign investment#122 of 1841.2% of GDP#8 of 12 in Oceania
- Exports#166 of 1684.5% of GDP#12 of 12 in Oceania
- Mobile subscriptions#179 of 19154 subscriptions per 100 people#9 of 12 in Oceania
Energy & environment
- CO₂ per person#143 of 1850.59 tonnes a person#8 of 13 in Oceania
- Forest area#175 of 1921% forest#12 of 13 in Oceania
- Renewable energy#57 of 19041.9% renewable#3 of 13 in Oceania
- Access to electricity#120 of 19297.7% with electricity#7 of 13 in Oceania
- Air pollution (PM2.5)#190 of 1913.9 µg/m³#12 of 13 in Oceania
- Protected land#60 of 19122.9% of the land protected#3 of 13 in Oceania
- Arable land#157 of 1902.5% of the land arable#7 of 12 in Oceania
Governance & safety
Countries of a similar size
Every country within 25% of Kiribati’s area, lit up on the map →
- Bahrain1.03×Kiribati is 3% larger than Bahrain.
- Dominica1.08×Kiribati is 8% larger than Dominica.
- Tonga1.08×Kiribati is 8% larger than Tonga.
- Singapore1.13×Kiribati is 13% larger than Singapore.
- Micronesia1.16×Kiribati is 16% larger than Micronesia.
- São Tomé and Principe0.81×Kiribati is 19% smaller than São Tomé and Principe.
How many times does Kiribati fit into…
- Russia: about 21055 times
- Canada: about 12312 times
- United States: about 12117 times
Questions about Kiribati
- How big is Kiribati?
- Kiribati covers 811 km², which makes it number 172 of 194 countries by area. About 136,488 people live there (2025), 168 per km².
- Is Kiribati bigger than Bahrain?
- Kiribati is 3% larger than Bahrain. Kiribati: 811 km²; Bahrain: 787 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Kiribati?
- Kiribati lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Does Kiribati have land borders?
- No. Kiribati has no land neighbours; every border is a coastline.