Urban population in Kiribati
Kiribati: Urban population was 86,513 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Kiribati, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Kiribati is 86,513, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 45.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Kiribati peaked at 86,513 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7,177, in 1960.
Kiribati ranks 185th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Kiribati, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7,177 | — |
| 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 | 19,833 | +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 | 24,565 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 25,375 | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 26,189 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 26,926 | +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 | 34,719 | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 36,852 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 38,394 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 39,276 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 40,133 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 40,976 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 41,820 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 42,689 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 43,742 | +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 | 63,714 | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 66,536 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 69,749 | +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 685,900, 13% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10,507 | 7,177 | 13,633 | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,605 | 14,109 | 19,325 | 10 |
| 1980s | 22,284 | 19,833 | 25,375 | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,181 | 26,189 | 36,852 | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,087 | 38,394 | 50,413 | 10 |
| 2010s | 59,856 | 52,678 | 69,749 | 10 |
| 2020s | 80,220 | 73,657 | 86,513 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
More climate change data for Kiribati
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 0 kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 20.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7.63 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 12.42 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.0288 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.4434 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0 kt (2023)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0 kt (2023)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0 kt (2023)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 0 kt (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Kiribati?
- Urban population in Kiribati was 86,513 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 86,513 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,177 in 1960.
- How does Kiribati rank for urban population?
- Kiribati ranks 185th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.