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Economy of Kiribati vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kiribati has a GDP of $308M compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 192/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kiribati has $30.5M in government debt (9.92% of GDP), compared to $950B (173.5% of GDP) in Singapore.

Kiribati vs Singapore GDP by year

Kiribati
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kiribati Singapore
2024 $307,862,564 $547,386,645,892
2023 $288,610,748 $505,439,514,078
2022 $270,040,453 $509,017,841,147
2021 $285,259,881 $436,591,382,250
2020 $220,898,020 $349,165,858,545
2019 $216,985,388 $376,161,998,830
2018 $233,514,717 $377,123,710,561
2017 $222,875,736 $343,673,334,902
2016 $206,467,819 $319,646,468,521
2015 $191,559,399 $307,998,545,269
2014 $200,287,282 $314,863,580,758
2013 $201,730,861 $307,576,360,585
2012 $207,001,546 $295,092,888,077
2011 $195,970,140 $279,356,499,090
2010 $165,458,433 $239,807,980,591
2009 $140,177,384 $194,150,283,772
2008 $147,017,895 $193,617,323,539
2007 $138,054,946 $180,941,701,358
2006 $112,338,353 $148,627,286,361
2005 $113,895,437 $127,807,848,728
2004 $104,085,892 $115,033,593,101
2003 $96,105,619 $97,646,401,096
2002 $74,743,869 $92,538,372,870
2001 $64,935,850 $89,793,790,670
2000 $74,910,527 $96,076,539,926
1999 $77,323,978 $86,286,849,755
1998 $74,905,706 $85,728,207,782
1997 $80,205,807 $100,123,787,215
1996 $81,456,854 $96,293,086,513
1995 $68,596,395 $87,812,540,788
1994 $67,055,334 $73,688,724,431
1993 $58,953,596 $60,603,815,716
1992 $61,491,369 $52,131,320,033
1991 $41,247,792 $45,466,164,978
1990 $36,534,295 $36,144,336,769
1989 $37,645,319 $30,465,364,739
1988 $38,278,810 $25,371,462,488
1987 $29,554,413 $20,919,215,578
1986 $25,993,009 $18,586,746,057
1985 $26,126,615 $19,156,532,746
1984 $34,394,167 $19,749,361,098
1983 $31,000,546 $17,784,112,150
1982 $32,742,713 $16,084,252,378
1981 $35,267,489 $14,175,228,844
1980 $33,157,723 $11,896,256,783
1979 $34,466,197 $9,296,921,724
1978 $36,563,965 $7,517,176,355
1977 $31,335,459 $6,618,585,074
1976 $33,246,817 $6,327,077,974
1975 $44,547,454 $5,633,673,930
1974 $69,256,489 $5,221,534,956
1973 $25,645,040 $3,696,213,333
1972 $15,314,346 $2,721,440,981
1971 $12,356,134 $2,263,785,444
1970 $11,560,877 $1,920,574,150
1969 - $1,659,893,768
1968 - $1,425,706,091
1967 - $1,238,035,816
1966 - $1,096,425,608
1965 - $974,644,096
1964 - $894,153,311
1963 - $917,608,012
1962 - $826,239,212
1961 - $764,629,788
1960 - $704,751,700

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

GDP per capita in Kiribati vs Singapore by year

Kiribati
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kiribati Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,289 $3,702 $90,674 $150,689
2023 $2,178 $3,486 $85,412 $143,786
2022 $2,070 $3,329 $90,299 $143,095
2021 $2,222 $3,020 $80,056 $132,617
2020 $1,752 $2,711 $61,410 $101,518
2019 $1,751 $2,763 $65,952 $105,335
2018 $1,913 $2,672 $66,882 $103,963
2017 $1,853 $2,562 $61,236 $95,744
2016 $1,743 $2,463 $57,006 $89,902
2015 $1,640 $2,311 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $1,737 $2,084 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $1,772 $2,049 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $1,844 $1,896 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $1,771 $1,786 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $1,522 $1,724 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $1,317 $1,718 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $1,411 $1,735 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $1,353 $1,792 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $1,123 $1,728 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $1,162 $1,617 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $1,083 $1,579 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $1,021 $1,578 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $810 $1,605 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $719 $1,591 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $845 $1,638 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $887 $1,526 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $874 $1,593 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $953 $1,535 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $986 $1,519 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $844 $1,518 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $838 $1,469 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $748 $1,431 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $792 $1,421 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $540 $1,139 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $488 $1,192 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $515 - $10,395 -
1988 $536 - $8,914 -
1987 $424 - $7,539 -
1986 $382 - $6,800 -
1985 $393 - $7,002 -
1984 $527 - $7,228 -
1983 $483 - $6,633 -
1982 $519 - $6,078 -
1981 $568 - $5,597 -
1980 $542 - $4,928 -
1979 $573 - $3,901 -
1978 $611 - $3,194 -
1977 $520 - $2,846 -
1976 $548 - $2,759 -
1975 $730 - $2,490 -
1974 $1,131 - $2,342 -
1973 $422 - $1,685 -
1972 $256.2 - $1,264 -
1971 $210.7 - $1,071 -
1970 $201 - $926 -
1969 - - $813 -
1968 - - $709 -
1967 - - $626 -
1966 - - $567 -
1965 - - $517 -
1964 - - $486 -
1963 - - $511 -
1962 - - $472 -
1961 - - $449 -
1960 - - $428 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

Kiribati's GDP per capita is $2,289, ranking 152/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

Kiribati Singapore
Gross domestic product
$308M
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
192/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP growth
5.27%
2023-2024
4.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,289
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
152/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,702
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
169/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$30.5M
2024
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
9.92%
2024
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$226.9
2024
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank
181/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,967
2026
$52,793
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
331,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
49
2025
Income share by richest 10%
22.8%
2019
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
4%
2019
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
98.1%
2024
14.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.5%
2023-2024
2.39%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
2.79%
2023
2.74%
2024
Population
139020
6125852

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kiribati
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kiribati Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 98.1% 9.92% 14.6% 173.5%
2023 95.3% 11.4% 14.8% 172.8%
2022 87.5% 16.3% 15% 154.3%
2021 84% 17.3% 15.6% 141.7%
2020 102.2% 21% 24.1% 148.2%
2019 108.3% 19% 14% 127.9%
2018 108.8% 19% 13.9% 109.4%
2017 92.1% 20.2% 13.6% 107.6%
2016 99% 21.2% 15.3% 106.3%
2015 90.9% 18.8% 14.4% 102.2%
2014 101.2% 8.97% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 78% 8.86% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 83.9% 8.13% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 80.9% 8.8% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 75.7% 9.43% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 74.7% 10.3% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 79.4% 13.9% 14% 97.9%
2007 77.3% 11.1% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 82.1% 12.9% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 95.6% 12.1% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 103.8% 13.6% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 84.4% 12.3% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 96.9% 13.3% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 101.3% 17% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 66% 12.7% 16.1% 82.3%
1999 77.6% 11.8% 15.9% 85.3%
1998 74.7% 9.81% 18.1% 84.6%
1997 70.9% 10.7% 14.5% 70.8%
1996 68.4% 11% 18.1% 71.3%
1995 69.6% 12.3% 13.8% 69.8%
1994 54.6% 12.3% 11.7% 70.7%
1993 55.3% 10.9% 14.5% 71.2%
1992 65.9% 7.31% 14.5% 79%
1991 82.1% 8.43% 15.9% 76.4%
1990 105.5% 7.72% 15.1% 73.5%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Kiribati's government spending was $302M, accounting for 98.1% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $79.7B, or 14.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 9.92% in Kiribati and 173.5% in Singapore, ranking 180/185 and 4/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kiribati

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kiribati Singapore
2024 -22% 4.44%
2023 0.13% 3.47%
2022 -18.3% 1.21%
2021 -10.8% 1.13%
2020 3.57% -6.73%
2019 10.8% 3.77%
2018 5.18% 3.68%
2017 34.1% 5.24%
2016 20.1% 3.25%
2015 42.5% 2.86%
2014 35% 4.6%
2013 11.8% 5.96%
2012 -5.43% 7.34%
2011 -17.6% 7.96%
2010 -7.8% 5.68%
2009 -8.56% -0.09%
2008 -15.8% 3.59%
2007 -12.5% 7.12%
2006 -12.3% 2.16%
2005 -9.96% 2.56%
2004 -19.2% 2.06%
2003 -8.93% 0.68%
2002 3.13% 2.23%
2001 -10.9% 1.2%
2000 -0.03% 4.59%
1999 -1.81% 5.2%
1998 14.6% 2.41%
1997 5.92% 5.66%
1996 -20.2% 1.98%
1995 -5.14% 4.8%
1994 0.74% 7.9%
1993 6.27% 4.36%
1992 0.79% 2.7%
1991 3.87% 0.68%
1990 -4.62% 1.97%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Kiribati's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $67.7M, equivalent to 22% of GDP. This compares to Singapore's surplus of $24.3B, or 4.44% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Kiribati recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, Kiribati posted an annual deficit equal to 0.38% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.36% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kiribati

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kiribati Singapore
2024 2.5% 2.39%
2023 9.3% 4.83%
2022 5.3% 6.13%
2021 2.1% 2.32%
2020 2.6% -0.17%
2019 -1.8% 0.57%
2018 0.6% 0.44%
2017 0.4% 0.58%
2016 1.9% -0.53%
2015 0.6% -0.52%
2014 2.1% 1.03%
2013 -1.5% 2.36%
2012 -3% 4.58%
2011 1.5% 5.25%
2010 -3.9% 2.83%
2009 9.8% 0.59%
2008 13.7% 6.64%
2007 3.6% 2.11%
2006 -1% 0.97%
2005 -0.4% 0.43%
2004 -0.7% 1.66%
2003 1.6% 0.51%
2002 3.2% -0.39%
2001 6% 1%
2000 0.4% 1.36%
1999 1.8% 0.02%
1998 3.7% -0.27%
1997 2.6% 2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Kiribati has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.25%, compared with 1.74% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Kiribati and 2.39% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

Kiribati
Export category Export value
Metals $22K
Machinery & equipment $6K
Singapore
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.47M
Miscellaneous $600K
Wood & paper products $432K
Raw materials & minerals $297K
Chemicals & pharma $160K
Metals $139K
Machinery & equipment $131K
Textiles & consumer goods $54K
Raw agricultural goods $5K
Animal & marine products $1K

Balance of trade

Kiribati Singapore
Current account balance
-$59.5M
2024
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
85/190
2024
8/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-19.3%
2024
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$227M
2024
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$8.49M
2024
$583B
2024
Service imports
$108M
2024
$351B
2024
Service exports
$7M
2024
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
94.9%
2024
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
6.27%
2024
178.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Kiribati Singapore
Economic freedom 50.8 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 158/197 1/197
Property rights 69.6 89.2
Government integrity 50.5 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 54.6 58.3
Tax burden 72.6 89.5
Government spending 0 93.4
Fiscal health 19.8 80
Business freedom 60.2 90.6
Labor freedom 65.3 77
Monetary freedom 76.7 83.5
Trade freedom 80 95
Investment freedom 30 90
Financial freedom 30 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kiribati
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kiribati Singapore
2026 50.8 84.4
2025 50.9 84.1
2024 51.3 83.5
2023 58.8 83.9
2022 59.2 84.4
2021 44.4 89.7
2020 45.2 89.4
2019 47.3 89.4
2018 50.8 88.8
2017 50.9 88.6
2016 46.2 87.8
2015 46.4 89.4
2014 46.3 89.4
2013 45.9 88
2012 46.9 87.5
2011 44.8 87.2
2010 43.7 86.1
2009 45.7 87.1
2008 - 87.3
2007 - 87.1
2006 - 88
2005 - 88.6
2004 - 88.9
2003 - 88.2
2002 - 87.4
2001 - 87.8
2000 - 87.7
1999 - 86.9
1998 - 87
1997 - 87.3
1996 - 86.5
1995 - 86.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Kiribati is 50.8, ranking 158/197, compared to 84.4 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Kiribati Singapore
Services, % of GDP
67.1%
2023
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
11.5%
2023
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$493M
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,060
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$8.06M
2024
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.07M
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$16.4K
2024
$55.3B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.5%
2023
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.8%
2023
22.2%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/singapore | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.