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Fertility & birth rates in Kiribati and Marshall Islands

Updated on by Georank team

Kiribati has an annual birth rate of 25.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 21.1 for the Marshall Islands. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.15 in Kiribati and 2.92 in the Marshall Islands — 7.24% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 51.1% in Kiribati and by 63.9% in the Marshall Islands — in 1960, it was 6.44 and 8.08, respectively.

  • Kiribati is ranked 50/196 by birth rate compared to 67/196 for the Marshall Islands.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 23.1 years in Kiribati, compared to 20.7 years in the Marshall Islands.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29 in Kiribati — it's 27.1 in the Marshall Islands.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 44 in Kiribati vs 71.8 in the Marshall Islands.
  • In Kiribati, 26% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23.8% in the Marshall Islands.

Fertility rate in Kiribati vs Marshall Islands by year

Kiribati
Marshall Islands
1x
Year Fertility rate
Kiribati Marshall Islands
2023 3.15 2.92
2022 3.18 2.94
2021 3.22 2.96
2020 3.25 2.99
2019 3.29 3.01
2018 3.32 3.04
2017 3.34 3.06
2016 3.38 3.09
2015 3.44 3.13
2014 3.52 3.18
2013 3.64 3.25
2012 3.77 3.38
2011 3.88 3.53
2010 3.9 3.67
2009 3.91 3.83
2008 3.9 3.97
2007 3.87 4.09
2006 3.82 4.2
2005 3.76 4.28
2004 3.73 4.34
2003 3.7 4.42
2002 3.81 4.49
2001 3.96 4.58
2000 4.07 4.7
1999 4.18 4.78
1998 4.29 4.87
1997 4.37 4.96
1996 4.43 5.02
1995 4.42 5.09
1994 4.44 5.23
1993 4.49 5.38
1992 4.57 5.55
1991 4.64 5.76
1990 4.67 5.97
1989 4.69 6.18
1988 4.73 6.38
1987 4.81 6.57
1986 4.87 6.73
1985 4.91 6.87
1984 4.91 6.99
1983 4.91 7.08
1982 4.95 7.18
1981 4.96 7.27
1980 4.96 7.37
1979 4.97 7.47
1978 4.97 7.58
1977 4.96 7.67
1976 4.96 7.76
1975 5.02 7.83
1974 5.09 7.9
1973 5.2 7.95
1972 5.37 8
1971 5.55 8.04
1970 5.71 8.07
1969 5.85 8.11
1968 5.98 8.14
1967 6.11 8.17
1966 6.23 8.2
1965 6.26 8.16
1964 6.29 8.14
1963 6.35 8.12
1962 6.42 8.12
1961 6.48 8.12
1960 6.44 8.08

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Kiribati was 3.15 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.92 in the Marshall Islands in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Kiribati vs the Marshall Islands population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Kiribati
Marshall Islands
1x
Year Natural population change
Kiribati Marshall Islands
2023 2,487 550
2022 2,522 606
2021 2,408 653
2020 2,497 689
2019 2,560 746
2018 2,561 785
2017 2,549 826
2016 2,546 866
2015 2,555 912
2014 2,577 959
2013 2,629 1,014
2012 2,678 1,097
2011 2,709 1,185
2010 2,644 1,273
2009 2,573 1,365
2008 2,493 1,443
2007 2,393 1,507
2006 2,285 1,556
2005 2,188 1,586
2004 2,118 1,595
2003 2,045 1,600
2002 2,074 1,594
2001 2,121 1,596
2000 2,153 1,592
1999 2,186 1,590
1998 2,210 1,576
1997 2,220 1,564
1996 2,217 1,542
1995 2,183 1,522
1994 2,168 1,524
1993 2,161 1,524
1992 2,173 1,525
1991 2,176 1,540
1990 2,127 1,556
1989 2,073 1,574
1988 2,022 1,575
1987 1,982 1,566
1986 1,933 1,544
1985 1,881 1,511
1984 1,813 1,470
1983 1,748 1,422
1982 1,697 1,375
1981 1,635 1,328
1980 1,571 1,287
1979 1,509 1,250
1978 1,480 1,207
1977 1,426 1,160
1976 1,425 1,109
1975 1,423 1,055
1974 1,430 1,000
1973 1,409 954
1972 1,406 913
1971 1,406 877
1970 1,388 819
1969 1,367 747
1968 1,393 685
1967 1,417 636
1966 1,437 603
1965 1,376 566
1964 1,318 536
1963 1,273 509
1962 1,233 488
1961 1,199 469
1960 1,141 452

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +1.88% in Kiribati and +1.42% in the Marshall Islands.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.05% in Kiribati and +1.69% in the Marshall Islands.

Birth rate in Kiribati vs Marshall Islands by year

Kiribati
Marshall Islands

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Kiribati Marshall Islands
2023 25.8 21.1
2022 26.4 22
2021 26.9 23.2
2020 27.4 23.4
2019 27.8 23.7
2018 28.1 24.1
2017 28.3 24.4
2016 28.5 24.7
2015 28.9 25.2
2014 29.3 25.7
2013 30 26.4
2012 30.8 27.7
2011 31.4 29.2
2010 31.2 30.9
2009 31.1 32.8
2008 30.8 34.3
2007 30.3 35.6
2006 29.7 36.6
2005 29.2 37.2
2004 28.9 37.4
2003 28.6 37.6
2002 29.4 37.6
2001 30.5 37.8
2000 31.5 38.2
1999 32.5 38.3
1998 33.4 38.4
1997 34.1 38.6
1996 34.8 38.5
1995 35 38.5
1994 35.4 39
1993 35.9 39.6
1992 36.8 40.2
1991 37.6 41.2
1990 37.7 42.4
1989 37.9 43.8
1988 38.2 45
1987 38.6 46.2
1986 38.8 47.3
1985 38.9 48.2
1984 38.6 48.9
1983 38.1 49.5
1982 37.9 50
1981 37.4 50.5
1980 36.8 51.1
1979 36.2 51.6
1978 36.2 51.7
1977 35.7 51.6
1976 35.4 51.4
1975 35.4 50.9
1974 35.7 50.3
1973 35.7 49.7
1972 36.5 48.9
1971 37.4 48.5
1970 38.1 47.7
1969 38.7 47.2
1968 40.1 47.4
1967 41.2 47.7
1966 42.2 47.5
1965 42 46.6
1964 42.2 46.2
1963 42.6 46
1962 43.1 46.2
1961 43.6 46.5
1960 43.5 46.9

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 25.8 in Kiribati and 21.1 in the Marshall Islands, compared with 43.5 and 46.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Kiribati Marshall Islands
Fertility rate 3.15 2.92
Fertility rate rank 53/196 58/196
Birth rate 25.8 21.1
Birth rate rank 50/196 67/196
Population change due to births and deaths +2,487 +550
Natural population change rank 135/196 143/196
Natural population change rate +1.88% +1.42%
Population growth +1.5% -3.29%
Population growth rank 72/197 197/197
Age at first childbirth 23.1 years 20.7 years
Average age at childbearing 29 years 27.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 45.3 70.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 152.8 165.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 45.7 18.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26% 23.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 27.3% 42.4%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 91.9% 92.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.08% 0.16%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.24% 1.3%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.97% 2.35%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 5.51% 2.82%
Life expectancy 66.9 years 67.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Kiribati
Factual

UN forecast
Marshall Islands
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Kiribati Marshall Islands
2100 19.5% 16.6%
2099 19.6% 16.6%
2098 19.7% 16.6%
2097 19.8% 16.7%
2096 20% 16.7%
2095 20.1% 16.8%
2094 20.2% 16.9%
2093 20.3% 17%
2092 20.5% 17.1%
2091 20.6% 17.3%
2090 20.7% 17.5%
2089 20.9% 17.7%
2088 21% 17.9%
2087 21.2% 18.2%
2086 21.3% 18.4%
2085 21.4% 18.7%
2084 21.6% 19%
2083 21.7% 19.3%
2082 21.8% 19.5%
2081 22% 19.8%
2080 22.1% 20%
2079 22.2% 20.2%
2078 22.3% 20.4%
2077 22.5% 20.6%
2076 22.6% 20.8%
2075 22.7% 20.9%
2074 22.9% 21%
2073 23% 21.1%
2072 23.1% 21.2%
2071 23.3% 21.3%
2070 23.4% 21.3%
2069 23.6% 21.4%
2068 23.8% 21.5%
2067 23.9% 21.7%
2066 24.1% 21.8%
2065 24.3% 22%
2064 24.5% 22.3%
2063 24.7% 22.6%
2062 25% 22.9%
2061 25.2% 23.3%
2060 25.4% 23.8%
2059 25.6% 24.3%
2058 25.8% 24.8%
2057 26.1% 25.4%
2056 26.3% 26%
2055 26.5% 26.5%
2054 26.7% 27.1%
2053 26.9% 27.6%
2052 27.1% 28%
2051 27.3% 28.4%
2050 27.5% 28.7%
2049 27.7% 28.9%
2048 27.9% 29%
2047 28% 29.1%
2046 28.2% 29%
2045 28.4% 28.9%
2044 28.5% 28.7%
2043 28.7% 28.4%
2042 28.9% 28.2%
2041 29.1% 27.8%
2040 29.3% 27.5%
2039 29.5% 27.3%
2038 29.8% 27.3%
2037 30.1% 27.4%
2036 30.4% 27.8%
2035 30.8% 28.4%
2034 31.1% 28.9%
2033 31.5% 29.5%
2032 31.8% 30%
2031 32.2% 30.6%
2030 32.6% 31.2%
2029 32.9% 31.7%
2028 33.3% 32.3%
2027 33.7% 32.9%
2026 34.2% 33.6%
2025 34.6% 34.2%
2024 34.7% 34.5%
2023 34.9% 34.7%
2022 35.1% 34.6%
2021 35.2% 34.4%
2020 35.2% 34.5%
2019 35.1% 35.1%
2018 35.1% 35.7%
2017 35% 36.2%
2016 35% 36.8%
2015 35.2% 37.5%
2014 35.4% 38.2%
2013 35.7% 38.8%
2012 36.1% 39.4%
2011 36.4% 39.7%
2010 36.6% 39.7%
2009 36.8% 39.4%
2008 37% 39.2%
2007 37.3% 39%
2006 37.6% 38.9%
2005 38% 39.1%
2004 38.4% 39.4%
2003 38.9% 39.9%
2002 39.3% 40.6%
2001 39.8% 41.3%
2000 40.1% 42%
1999 40.5% 42.8%
1998 40.8% 43.7%
1997 41% 44.7%
1996 41.1% 45.6%
1995 41.2% 46.6%
1994 41.2% 47.5%
1993 41% 48.4%
1992 40.8% 49.1%
1991 40.5% 49.7%
1990 40.2% 50.2%
1989 39.9% 50.6%
1988 39.7% 50.8%
1987 39.4% 50.8%
1986 39.2% 50.7%
1985 39.2% 50.6%
1984 39.2% 50.4%
1983 39.5% 50.4%
1982 39.9% 50.3%
1981 40.5% 50.3%
1980 41.1% 50.1%
1979 41.8% 49.8%
1978 42.3% 49.4%
1977 42.8% 49%
1976 43.2% 48.5%
1975 43.7% 48.2%
1974 44.2% 47.8%
1973 44.6% 47.3%
1972 44.8% 46.6%
1971 44.8% 45.6%
1970 44.9% 45%
1969 45% 45.3%
1968 44.9% 46.1%
1967 44.5% 46.7%
1966 44.1% 47.2%
1965 43.9% 47.5%
1964 44% 47.5%
1963 44% 47.4%
1962 43.8% 47.1%
1961 43.5% 46.7%
1960 43.2% 46.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.7% of the population in Kiribati and 34.5% in the Marshall Islands in 2024, compared to 40.2% and 50.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Kiribati and the Marshall Islands compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Kiribati vs Marshall Islands

Kiribati
Marshall Islands
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Kiribati Marshall Islands
2023 80 155
2022 86 174
2021 122 206
2020 89 178
2019 89 168
2018 87 167
2017 90 179
2016 88 183
2015 90 184
2014 91 199
2013 93 201
2012 98 207
2011 98 209
2010 102 212
2009 99 224
2008 100 226
2007 101 229
2006 102 233
2005 104 234
2004 106 238
2003 105 221
2002 109 223
2001 113 231
2000 119 251
1999 121 250
1998 126 259
1997 132 274
1996 141 292
1995 148 303
1994 150 303
1993 162 320
1992 175 322
1991 188 297
1990 199 311
1989 212 299
1988 220 276
1987 231 282
1986 232 274
1985 246 254

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 80 deaths per 100,000 live births in Kiribati, compared to 155 deaths in the Marshall Islands.

Under-five mortality rates

Kiribati
Marshall Islands

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Kiribati Marshall Islands
2023 5.51% 2.82%
2022 5.65% 2.91%
2021 5.76% 3%
2020 5.86% 3.1%
2019 5.93% 3.19%
2018 5.98% 3.29%
2017 5.99% 3.38%
2016 5.95% 3.48%
2015 5.89% 3.57%
2014 5.84% 3.66%
2013 5.8% 3.75%
2012 5.78% 3.82%
2011 5.79% 3.89%
2010 5.82% 3.94%
2009 5.87% 3.97%
2008 5.93% 4.02%
2007 5.99% 4.06%
2006 6.03% 4.1%
2005 6.07% 4.14%
2004 6.13% 4.18%
2003 6.2% 4.21%
2002 6.31% 4.24%
2001 6.46% 4.25%
2000 6.64% 4.25%
1999 6.83% 4.23%
1998 7.02% 4.19%
1997 7.22% 4.15%
1996 7.42% 4.14%
1995 7.64% 4.15%
1994 7.87% 4.2%
1993 8.13% 4.29%
1992 8.44% 4.43%
1991 8.77% 4.59%
1990 9.13% 4.76%
1989 9.5% 4.95%
1988 9.87% 5.13%
1987 10.2% 5.31%
1986 10.6% 5.49%
1985 10.9% 5.66%
1984 11.1% 5.83%
1983 11.4% 6%
1982 11.6% 6.15%
1981 11.7% 6.29%
1980 11.9% 6.42%
1979 12% 6.52%
1978 12.2% 6.61%
1977 12.3% 6.69%
1976 12.4% 6.77%
1975 12.5% 6.86%
1974 12.7% 6.97%
1973 13% 7.13%
1972 13.3% 7.33%
1971 13.7% 7.58%
1970 14.1% 7.87%
1969 14.6% 8.19%
1968 15.2% 8.53%
1967 15.8% 8.88%
1966 16.4% 9.25%
1965 17.1% 9.64%
1964 17.7% 10.1%
1963 18.3% 10.5%
1962 18.9% 11%
1961 19.5% 11.6%
1960 19.9% 12.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.51% in Kiribati and 2.82% in the Marshall Islands. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2017–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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