Kiribati has a GDP of $349M compared to $264B for New Zealand, ranking 192/197 and 53/197 by economy size, respectively.
Kiribati has $27.8M in government debt (7.95% of GDP), compared to $145B (54.7% of GDP) in New Zealand.
Kiribati vs New Zealand GDP by year
| Year | GDP, current $ | |
|---|---|---|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2025 | $349,227,254 | $264,057,413,740 |
| 2024 | $343,153,235 | $261,497,198,364 |
| 2023 | $291,657,338 | $256,372,177,758 |
| 2022 | $271,214,375 | $249,723,029,451 |
| 2021 | $285,451,584 | $253,732,493,988 |
| 2020 | $220,909,307 | $213,318,129,989 |
| 2019 | $216,891,541 | $213,088,034,258 |
| 2018 | $233,859,230 | $211,726,161,989 |
| 2017 | $223,029,865 | $206,561,943,051 |
| 2016 | $206,467,819 | $188,980,351,891 |
| 2015 | $191,559,399 | $178,147,457,243 |
| 2014 | $200,287,282 | $201,435,445,068 |
| 2013 | $201,730,861 | $190,943,478,290 |
| 2012 | $207,001,546 | $176,508,049,114 |
| 2011 | $195,970,140 | $168,458,838,711 |
| 2010 | $165,458,433 | $146,887,902,524 |
| 2009 | $140,177,384 | $121,663,439,315 |
| 2008 | $147,017,895 | $133,437,126,590 |
| 2007 | $138,054,946 | $137,188,946,866 |
| 2006 | $112,338,353 | $111,538,810,713 |
| 2005 | $113,895,437 | $114,720,129,550 |
| 2004 | $104,085,892 | $103,905,210,084 |
| 2003 | $96,105,619 | $88,250,885,550 |
| 2002 | $74,743,869 | $66,627,729,311 |
| 2001 | $64,935,850 | $53,872,425,917 |
| 2000 | $74,910,527 | $52,623,281,957 |
| 1999 | $77,323,978 | $58,762,260,626 |
| 1998 | $74,905,706 | $56,227,169,851 |
| 1997 | $80,205,807 | $66,075,143,415 |
| 1996 | $81,456,854 | $70,140,835,299 |
| 1995 | $68,596,395 | $63,918,703,507 |
| 1994 | $67,055,334 | $55,314,732,279 |
| 1993 | $58,953,596 | $46,775,620,817 |
| 1992 | $61,491,369 | $41,649,829,860 |
| 1991 | $41,247,792 | $42,745,329,732 |
| 1990 | $36,534,295 | $45,495,129,385 |
| 1989 | $37,645,319 | $43,920,222,525 |
| 1988 | $38,278,810 | $45,176,811,594 |
| 1987 | $29,554,413 | $40,376,354,070 |
| 1986 | $25,993,009 | $30,604,668,357 |
| 1985 | $26,126,615 | $24,679,795,396 |
| 1984 | $34,394,167 | $21,665,975,319 |
| 1983 | $31,000,546 | $24,309,279,706 |
| 1982 | $32,742,713 | $24,164,603,059 |
| 1981 | $35,267,489 | $24,417,617,184 |
| 1980 | $33,157,723 | $23,244,547,385 |
| 1979 | $34,466,197 | $20,731,243,113 |
| 1978 | $36,563,965 | $18,530,518,395 |
| 1977 | $31,335,459 | $15,446,825,318 |
| 1976 | $33,246,817 | $13,604,832,424 |
| 1975 | $44,547,454 | $12,861,983,284 |
| 1974 | $69,256,489 | $13,940,981,798 |
| 1973 | $25,645,040 | $12,802,281,898 |
| 1972 | $15,314,346 | $9,567,331,065 |
| 1971 | $12,356,134 | $7,911,136,757 |
| 1970 | $11,560,877 | $6,495,605,331 |
| 1969 | - | $5,814,357,709 |
| 1968 | - | $5,228,045,415 |
| 1967 | - | $6,016,017,227 |
| 1966 | - | $5,917,437,693 |
| 1965 | - | $5,706,251,400 |
| 1964 | - | $7,340,766,415 |
| 1963 | - | $6,699,741,645 |
| 1962 | - | $6,133,158,532 |
| 1961 | - | $5,721,994,864 |
| 1960 | - | $5,536,098,360 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY 
GDP per capita in Kiribati vs New Zealand by year
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2025 | $2,559 | - | $49,591 | - |
| 2024 | $2,551 | $3,702 | $49,432 | $55,551 |
| 2023 | $2,201 | $3,486 | $49,302 | $54,697 |
| 2022 | $2,079 | $3,329 | $49,142 | $54,034 |
| 2021 | $2,224 | $3,020 | $49,902 | $48,249 |
| 2020 | $1,752 | $2,711 | $42,055 | $45,513 |
| 2019 | $1,750 | $2,763 | $42,872 | $45,278 |
| 2018 | $1,916 | $2,672 | $43,204 | $42,527 |
| 2017 | $1,854 | $2,562 | $42,912 | $42,244 |
| 2016 | $1,743 | $2,463 | $40,088 | $39,989 |
| 2015 | $1,640 | $2,311 | $38,649 | $37,513 |
| 2014 | $1,737 | $2,084 | $44,600 | $37,331 |
| 2013 | $1,772 | $2,049 | $42,985 | $36,263 |
| 2012 | $1,844 | $1,896 | $40,042 | $33,055 |
| 2011 | $1,771 | $1,786 | $38,426 | $32,739 |
| 2010 | $1,522 | $1,724 | $33,762 | $31,305 |
| 2009 | $1,317 | $1,718 | $28,277 | $30,746 |
| 2008 | $1,411 | $1,735 | $31,325 | $29,896 |
| 2007 | $1,353 | $1,792 | $32,480 | $29,331 |
| 2006 | $1,123 | $1,728 | $26,655 | $27,732 |
| 2005 | $1,162 | $1,617 | $27,751 | $25,677 |
| 2004 | $1,083 | $1,579 | $25,420 | $25,124 |
| 2003 | $1,021 | $1,578 | $21,914 | $23,996 |
| 2002 | $810 | $1,605 | $16,874 | $23,306 |
| 2001 | $719 | $1,591 | $13,883 | $22,511 |
| 2000 | $845 | $1,638 | $13,641 | $21,500 |
| 1999 | $887 | $1,526 | $15,322 | $20,579 |
| 1998 | $874 | $1,593 | $14,738 | $19,323 |
| 1997 | $953 | $1,535 | $17,474 | $19,100 |
| 1996 | $986 | $1,519 | $18,794 | $18,392 |
| 1995 | $844 | $1,518 | $17,400 | $17,864 |
| 1994 | $838 | $1,469 | $15,280 | $17,108 |
| 1993 | $748 | $1,431 | $13,094 | $15,900 |
| 1992 | $792 | $1,421 | $11,793 | $14,877 |
| 1991 | $540 | $1,139 | $12,230 | $14,501 |
| 1990 | $488 | $1,192 | $13,663 | $14,812 |
| 1989 | $515 | - | $13,312 | - |
| 1988 | $536 | - | $13,759 | - |
| 1987 | $424 | - | $12,331 | - |
| 1986 | $382 | - | $9,428 | - |
| 1985 | $393 | - | $7,601 | - |
| 1984 | $527 | - | $6,714 | - |
| 1983 | $483 | - | $7,598 | - |
| 1982 | $519 | - | $7,656 | - |
| 1981 | $568 | - | $7,814 | - |
| 1980 | $542 | - | $7,467 | - |
| 1979 | $573 | - | $6,668 | - |
| 1978 | $611 | - | $5,937 | - |
| 1977 | $520 | - | $4,951 | - |
| 1976 | $548 | - | $4,374 | - |
| 1975 | $730 | - | $4,172 | - |
| 1974 | $1,131 | - | $4,611 | - |
| 1973 | $422 | - | $4,323 | - |
| 1972 | $256.2 | - | $3,295 | - |
| 1971 | $210.7 | - | $2,773 | - |
| 1970 | $201 | - | $2,311 | - |
| 1969 | - | - | $2,097 | - |
| 1968 | - | - | $1,902 | - |
| 1967 | - | - | $2,208 | - |
| 1966 | - | - | $2,211 | - |
| 1965 | - | - | $2,171 | - |
| 1964 | - | - | $2,839 | - |
| 1963 | - | - | $2,646 | - |
| 1962 | - | - | $2,471 | - |
| 1961 | - | - | $2,365 | - |
| 1960 | - | - | $2,334 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
Kiribati's GDP per capita is $2,559, ranking 152/197, compared to $49,591 in New Zealand, ranking 26/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702, while New Zealand ranks 38th at $55,551.
Economic indicators
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$349M
2025 |
$264B
2025 |
| GDP rank |
192/197
2025 |
53/197
2025 |
| GDP growth |
4.22%
2024-2025 |
0.46%
2024-2025 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,559
2025 |
$49,591
2025 |
| GDP per capita rank |
152/197
2025 |
26/197
2025 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$3,702
2024 |
$55,551
2024 |
| GDP per capita PPP rank |
169/197
2024 |
38/197
2024 |
| Government debt |
$27.8M
2025 |
$145B
2025 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
7.95%
2025 |
54.7%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$203.4
2025 |
$27,139
2025 |
| Government debt per person rank |
181/185
2025 |
27/185
2025 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,170
2026 |
$36,222
2026 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies | n/a |
$103B
2025 |
| Number of billionaires | n/a |
5
2026 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
20.9%
2023 |
n/a |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
4.4%
2023 |
n/a |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
88.2%
2025 |
41.6%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
6.5%
2024-2025 |
2.84%
2024-2025 |
| Central bank interest rate | n/a |
2.25%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
2.79%
2023 |
5.26%
2025 |
| Population |
139471
|
5380024
|
Spending and national debt comparison by year
| Year | % of GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|||
| Government spending | Government debt | Government spending | Government debt | |
| 2025 | 88.2% | 7.95% | 41.6% | 54.7% |
| 2024 | 86.1% | 8.9% | 41.7% | 51.4% |
| 2023 | 94.4% | 11.3% | 41% | 47.3% |
| 2022 | 87.2% | 16.2% | 41.7% | 46.9% |
| 2021 | 84% | 17.3% | 41.8% | 47.5% |
| 2020 | 102.2% | 21% | 41.9% | 43.2% |
| 2019 | 108.3% | 18.5% | 38.7% | 31.8% |
| 2018 | 108.8% | 19% | 36.1% | 28.1% |
| 2017 | 92.1% | 20.2% | 35.6% | 31.1% |
| 2016 | 99% | 21.2% | 36.4% | 33.4% |
| 2015 | 90.9% | 18.8% | 37.2% | 34.2% |
| 2014 | 101.2% | 8.97% | 37.6% | 34.2% |
| 2013 | 78% | 8.86% | 38.6% | 34.6% |
| 2012 | 83.9% | 8.13% | 39.7% | 35.7% |
| 2011 | 80.9% | 8.8% | 42.3% | 34.7% |
| 2010 | 75.7% | 9.43% | 42.9% | 29.6% |
| 2009 | 74.7% | 10.3% | 40.3% | 24.3% |
| 2008 | 79.4% | 13.9% | 38.4% | 19% |
| 2007 | 77.3% | 11.1% | 37% | 16.3% |
| 2006 | 82.1% | 12.9% | 37.8% | 18.4% |
| 2005 | 95.6% | 12.1% | 37.1% | 20.8% |
| 2004 | 103.8% | 13.6% | 36.1% | 22.5% |
| 2003 | 84.4% | 12.3% | 36.6% | 24.7% |
| 2002 | 96.9% | 13.3% | 36.7% | 26.4% |
| 2001 | 101.3% | 17% | 37.2% | 28.2% |
| 2000 | 66% | 12.7% | 38.2% | 30% |
| 1999 | 77.6% | 11.8% | 39.2% | 32% |
| 1998 | 74.7% | 9.81% | 40.1% | 34.5% |
| 1997 | 70.9% | 10.7% | 39.3% | 34.6% |
| 1996 | 68.4% | 11% | 39.8% | 37.3% |
| 1995 | 69.6% | 12.3% | 41.6% | 43.5% |
| 1994 | 54.6% | 12.3% | 42.7% | 48.9% |
| 1993 | 55.3% | 10.9% | 46.7% | 54.6% |
| 1992 | 65.9% | 7.31% | 52.4% | 58.7% |
| 1991 | 82.1% | 8.43% | 52.9% | 58% |
| 1990 | 105.5% | 7.72% | 49.5% | 55.5% |
| 1989 | - | - | 47.8% | 54.9% |
| 1988 | - | - | 46.1% | 54.7% |
| 1987 | - | - | 46.1% | 62.9% |
| 1986 | - | - | 46.9% | 68.5% |
| 1985 | - | - | 46.2% | 64.1% |
| 1984 | - | - | 40.7% | 62.8% |
| 1983 | - | - | 41.4% | 59.6% |
| 1982 | - | - | 39.9% | 51.5% |
| 1981 | - | - | 39.1% | 50.5% |
| 1980 | - | - | 38% | 52.2% |
| 1979 | - | - | 38.4% | 52% |
| 1978 | - | - | 36.6% | 50% |
| 1977 | - | - | 30% | 44.6% |
| 1976 | - | - | 31.6% | 47.6% |
| 1975 | - | - | 30.1% | 41.4% |
| 1974 | - | - | 27.3% | 39.6% |
| 1973 | - | - | 27.1% | 44% |
| 1972 | - | - | 26.4% | 46% |
| 1971 | - | - | 26.8% | 71.3% |
| 1970 | - | - | 24.8% | 76.5% |
| 1969 | - | - | 25.9% | 85.8% |
| 1968 | - | - | 26.2% | 86.5% |
| 1967 | - | - | 26% | 59.7% |
| 1966 | - | - | 25% | 58.2% |
| 1965 | - | - | 24.9% | 59.6% |
| 1964 | - | - | 19.4% | 61.8% |
| 1963 | - | - | 19.4% | 64.5% |
| 1962 | - | - | 21.6% | 65% |
| 1961 | - | - | 21.1% | 64.6% |
| 1960 | - | - | 25.3% | 68.1% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
In 2025, Kiribati's government spending was $308M, accounting for 88.2% of its GDP, while New Zealand spent $110B, or 41.6% of GDP.
Debt-to-GDP ratio is 7.95% in Kiribati and 54.7% in New Zealand, ranking 182/185 and 91/185, respectively.
Government deficit by year
| Year | Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2025 | -14.5% | -3.86% |
| 2024 | -14.1% | -3.21% |
| 2023 | 1.81% | -3.22% |
| 2022 | -18.2% | -3.96% |
| 2021 | -10.8% | -3.35% |
| 2020 | 3.57% | -4.21% |
| 2019 | 10.8% | -2.44% |
| 2018 | 5.18% | 1.31% |
| 2017 | 34.1% | 1.38% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | 0.98% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | 0.37% |
| 2014 | 35% | -0.33% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | -1.28% |
| 2012 | -5.43% | -2.18% |
| 2011 | -17.6% | -4.94% |
| 2010 | -7.8% | -5.49% |
| 2009 | -8.56% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | -15.8% | 1.48% |
| 2007 | -12.5% | 3.6% |
| 2006 | -12.3% | 4.62% |
| 2005 | -9.96% | 5.13% |
| 2004 | -19.2% | 4.49% |
| 2003 | -8.93% | 3.69% |
| 2002 | 3.13% | 2.56% |
| 2001 | -10.9% | 1.29% |
| 2000 | -0.03% | 0.18% |
| 1999 | -1.81% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 14.6% | -0.47% |
| 1997 | 5.92% | 1.24% |
| 1996 | -20.2% | 2.58% |
| 1995 | -5.14% | 3.7% |
| 1994 | 0.74% | 2% |
| 1993 | 6.27% | -1.51% |
| 1992 | 0.79% | -6.25% |
| 1991 | 3.87% | -6.12% |
| 1990 | -4.62% | -2.72% |
| 1989 | - | -2.16% |
| 1988 | - | -1.88% |
| 1987 | - | -3.43% |
| 1986 | - | -5.33% |
| 1985 | - | -6.97% |
| 1984 | - | -8.68% |
| 1983 | - | -6.64% |
| 1982 | - | -6.26% |
| 1981 | - | -6.02% |
| 1980 | - | -4.9% |
| 1979 | - | -6.55% |
| 1978 | - | -3.41% |
| 1977 | - | -1.09% |
| 1976 | - | -2.07% |
| 1975 | - | 0.11% |
| 1974 | - | 0.03% |
| 1973 | - | -0.07% |
| 1972 | - | 0.12% |
| 1971 | - | 0.09% |
| 1970 | - | -0.05% |
| 1969 | - | 0.17% |
| 1968 | - | 0.03% |
| 1967 | - | 0.02% |
| 1966 | - | 0.09% |
| 1965 | - | 0.26% |
| 1964 | - | -0.08% |
| 1963 | - | -0.26% |
| 1962 | - | 0.02% |
| 1961 | - | 0.03% |
| 1960 | - | 0.05% |
| 1959 | - | 0.03% |
| 1958 | - | -0.02% |
| 1957 | - | 0.32% |
| 1956 | - | 1.33% |
| 1955 | - | 0.73% |
| 1954 | - | 0.22% |
| 1953 | - | 0.43% |
| 1952 | - | 1.73% |
| 1951 | - | 1.17% |
| 1950 | - | 0.78% |
| 1949 | - | 0.53% |
| 1948 | - | 0.36% |
| 1947 | - | 1.07% |
| 1946 | - | 0.31% |
| 1945 | - | 0.32% |
| 1944 | - | 0.59% |
| 1943 | - | 1.24% |
| 1942 | - | 0.56% |
| 1941 | - | 0.64% |
| 1940 | - | 0.13% |
| 1939 | - | 0.34% |
| 1938 | - | 0.38% |
| 1937 | - | 0.23% |
| 1936 | - | 0.17% |
| 1935 | - | 1.19% |
| 1934 | - | -0.55% |
| 1933 | - | 0.02% |
| 1932 | - | -1.77% |
| 1931 | - | -1.12% |
| 1930 | - | 0.09% |
| 1929 | - | -0.37% |
| 1928 | - | 0.12% |
| 1927 | - | 0.4% |
| 1926 | - | 0.72% |
| 1925 | - | 0.78% |
| 1924 | - | 1.2% |
| 1923 | - | 0.95% |
| 1922 | - | -0.2% |
| 1921 | - | 3.55% |
| 1920 | - | 1.51% |
| 1919 | - | 2.9% |
| 1918 | - | 4.35% |
| 1917 | - | 3.89% |
| 1916 | - | 1.46% |
| 1915 | - | 0.06% |
| 1914 | - | 0.45% |
| 1913 | - | 0.79% |
| 1912 | - | 0.89% |
| 1911 | - | 1.24% |
| 1910 | - | 0.36% |
| 1909 | - | 0.31% |
| 1908 | - | 1.26% |
| 1907 | - | 1.13% |
| 1906 | - | 0.97% |
| 1905 | - | 1.41% |
| 1904 | - | 1.42% |
| 1903 | - | 0.55% |
| 1902 | - | 0.63% |
| 1901 | - | 1.11% |
| 1900 | - | 1.59% |
| 1899 | - | 1.15% |
| 1898 | - | 1.38% |
| 1897 | - | 0.86% |
| 1896 | - | 0.65% |
| 1895 | - | 0.32% |
| 1894 | - | 0.76% |
| 1893 | - | 1.14% |
| 1892 | - | 0.09% |
| 1891 | - | 0.46% |
| 1890 | - | 0.05% |
| 1889 | - | 0.59% |
| 1888 | - | -1.64% |
| 1887 | - | -1.63% |
| 1886 | - | -0.53% |
| 1885 | - | -0.47% |
| 1884 | - | -0.1% |
| 1883 | - | 0.38% |
| 1882 | - | 0.18% |
| 1881 | - | -2.33% |
| 1880 | - | -2.39% |
| 1879 | - | -0.55% |
| 1878 | - | -0.85% |
| 1877 | - | -2.53% |
| 1876 | - | -5.28% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1876–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
In 2025, Kiribati's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $50.6M, equivalent to 14.5% of GDP. This compares to New Zealand's deficit of $10.2B, or 3.86% of GDP.
Over the past 36 years, Kiribati recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while New Zealand ran a deficit in 19 years. On average, Kiribati posted an annual deficit equal to 0.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.5% of GDP for New Zealand.
Inflation comparison by year
| Year | Consumer prices inflation | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2025 | 6.5% | 2.84% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | 2.92% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | 5.73% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | 7.17% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | 3.94% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | 1.71% |
| 2019 | -1.8% | 1.62% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | 1.6% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | 1.85% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | 0.65% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | 0.29% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | 1.23% |
| 2013 | -1.5% | 1.13% |
| 2012 | -3% | 1.06% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | 4.03% |
| 2010 | -3.9% | 2.3% |
| 2009 | 9.8% | 2.12% |
| 2008 | 13.7% | 3.96% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | 2.38% |
| 2006 | -1% | 3.37% |
| 2005 | -0.4% | 3.04% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 2.29% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | 1.75% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | 2.68% |
| 2001 | 6% | 2.63% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | 2.62% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | -0.11% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | 1.27% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | 1.19% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
Over the past 29 years, Kiribati has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.4%, compared with 2.39% in New Zealand. In 2025, inflation was 6.5% in Kiribati and 2.84% in New Zealand.
Top exports between countries
|
Kiribati
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Animal & marine products | $95K |
| Machinery & equipment | $4K |
| Miscellaneous | $1K |
| Raw materials & minerals | $1K |
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $3.36M |
| Animal & marine products | $1.9M |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $1.54M |
| Wood & paper products | $1.2M |
| Raw agricultural goods | $1.07M |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $989K |
| Metals | $808K |
| Transport & tourism services | $700K |
| Chemicals & pharma | $694K |
| Raw materials & minerals | $694K |
Balance of trade
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$61.3M
2025 |
-$9.56B
2025 |
| Current account balance ranking |
77/190
2025 |
174/190
2025 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-17.6%
2025 |
-3.62%
2025 |
| Goods imports |
$270M
2025 |
$48.2B
2025 |
| Goods exports |
$17.3M
2025 |
$47.2B
2025 |
| Service imports |
$110M
2025 |
$20.3B
2025 |
| Service exports |
$8.63M
2025 |
$19.5B
2025 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
97.6%
2024 |
26%
2024 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
4.52%
2024 |
24.7%
2024 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 50.8 | 77.8 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 158/197 | 13/197 |
| Property rights | 69.6 | 85.4 |
| Government integrity | 50.5 | 90 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 54.6 | 95.9 |
| Tax burden | 72.6 | 66.1 |
| Government spending | 0 | 48 |
| Fiscal health | 19.8 | 72.2 |
| Business freedom | 60.2 | 89.1 |
| Labor freedom | 65.3 | 68.6 |
| Monetary freedom | 76.7 | 77.4 |
| Trade freedom | 80 | 90.6 |
| Investment freedom | 30 | 70 |
| Financial freedom | 30 | 80 |
Economic freedom comparison by year
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2026 | 50.8 | 77.8 |
| 2025 | 50.9 | 78.1 |
| 2024 | 51.3 | 77.8 |
| 2023 | 58.8 | 78.9 |
| 2022 | 59.2 | 80.6 |
| 2021 | 44.4 | 83.9 |
| 2020 | 45.2 | 84.1 |
| 2019 | 47.3 | 84.4 |
| 2018 | 50.8 | 84.2 |
| 2017 | 50.9 | 83.7 |
| 2016 | 46.2 | 81.6 |
| 2015 | 46.4 | 82.1 |
| 2014 | 46.3 | 81.2 |
| 2013 | 45.9 | 81.4 |
| 2012 | 46.9 | 82.1 |
| 2011 | 44.8 | 82.3 |
| 2010 | 43.7 | 82.1 |
| 2009 | 45.7 | 82 |
| 2008 | - | 80.7 |
| 2007 | - | 81.4 |
| 2006 | - | 82 |
| 2005 | - | 82.3 |
| 2004 | - | 81.5 |
| 2003 | - | 81.1 |
| 2002 | - | 80.7 |
| 2001 | - | 81.1 |
| 2000 | - | 80.9 |
| 1999 | - | 81.7 |
| 1998 | - | 79.2 |
| 1997 | - | 79 |
| 1996 | - | 78.1 |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
The Economic Freedom Index for Kiribati is 50.8, ranking 158/197, compared to 77.8 for New Zealand, ranking 13/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
Other economic metrics
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
70.3%
2024 |
68.2%
2023 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
11.8%
2024 |
19.4%
2023 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
23.2%
2024 |
4.01%
2023 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$537M
2025 |
$248B
2025 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$6,080
2025 |
$53,600
2025 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$28.2B
2025 |
| Total reserves ranking | n/a |
59/177
2025 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$4.14M
2025 |
-$3.58B
2025 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$8.07M
2024 |
$1.76B
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$16.4K
2024 |
$882M
2024 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
5.5%
2023 |
n/a |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
29.9%
2024 |
23.1%
2024 |
GDP per capita map
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1876–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- TradeMap (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.