Kiribati
Kiribati is a unique island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean, comprising 33 coral atolls and islands spread across an immense maritime region. Situated primarily in the Gilbert Islands, this remote archipelago straddles the equator and is...
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With a safety index of 96/100, Kiribati offers excellent safety conditions for expats and their families.
Kiribati offers visa-free entry to citizens of numerous countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most EU nations, for stays of up to 30 days per visit. This exemption applies to nationals listed in Schedules 1 and 2 of Kiribati's immigration policy, covering tourism, business, or transit purposes without the need for prior visa approval.[5][8] Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry, with at least one blank page for the...
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48% above EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
South Tarawa
Timezone
UTC+12:00
Area
811 km²
Population
119,446
GDP
$227,610,035
HDI
0.6
Quality of Life
N/A
NYC baseline: 43
Purchasing Power
N/A
NYC baseline: 42
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Kiribati. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very expensive with high inflation. CPI increased 8.0% year-on-year (June 2024), groceries index 75.3, restaurants 32.4. Nearly all essential goods must be imported, driving costs significantly above global averages.
Housing Market
Extremely expensive relative to income. Property prices average 59.4 years of household income. Rent index of 18.9 is among lowest globally, but absolute housing costs remain prohibitively high for most residents.
Average Income Levels
Very low purchasing power. Adult per capita income (PPP) is $7,622 annually. GDP per capita approximately $2,620 in current prices, among the lowest in the Pacific region with limited employment opportunities.
Tax System
Limited information available on tax structure. Kiribati has underdeveloped commercial regulations and limited fiscal data publicly available. Tax system appears basic with focus on import duties given import-dependent economy.
Business Environment
Challenging conditions for business. Not a WTO member, underdeveloped commercial regulations, high credit costs, and limited domestic production capacity. Small population (127,000) and geographic isolation create significant business constraints.
Social Security
Limited social safety net information available. Healthcare and social services exist but are constrained by small economy and limited government resources. Vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters creates additional social risks.
Kiribati is a tropical Pacific island nation characterized by a hot, oppressive, and windy climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation. Located near the equator, the country experiences consistently warm temperatures year-round, averaging around 27°C.
2 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
68.0
Population
119,446
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Kiribati. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Kiribati remains a presidential republic led by President Taneti Maamau of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party, who secured a third term following the party's landslide victory in the 2024 parliamentary elections. The unicameral House of Assembly, with 45 members, supports the government's focus on economic development and foreign relations amid climate challenges. Political stability persists with regular elections, though concerns over one-party dominance have emerged.
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Population
119,446
Currency
AUD
Timezones
UTC+12:00 to UTC+14:00
Calling Code
+686
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
37 (2006)
Traffic side
left side
Map coordinates not available for this location
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.