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Economy of Kiribati vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kiribati has a GDP of $308M compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 192/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kiribati has $30.5M in government debt (9.92% of GDP), compared to $211B (26.3% of GDP) in Taiwan.

Kiribati vs Taiwan GDP by year

Kiribati
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kiribati Taiwan
2024 $307,862,564 $801,529,000,000
2023 $288,610,748 $757,328,000,000
2022 $270,040,453 $765,529,000,000
2021 $285,259,881 $777,062,000,000
2020 $220,898,020 $676,935,000,000
2019 $216,985,388 $613,453,000,000
2018 $233,514,717 $610,744,000,000
2017 $222,875,736 $591,734,000,000
2016 $206,467,819 $543,002,000,000
2015 $191,559,399 $534,474,000,000
2014 $200,287,282 $535,332,000,000
2013 $201,730,861 $512,957,000,000
2012 $207,001,546 $495,536,000,000
2011 $195,970,140 $483,957,000,000
2010 $165,458,433 $444,245,000,000
2009 $140,177,384 $390,788,000,000
2008 $147,017,895 $415,824,000,000
2007 $138,054,946 $406,940,000,000
2006 $112,338,353 $386,492,000,000
2005 $113,895,437 $374,042,000,000
2004 $104,085,892 $346,881,000,000
2003 $96,105,619 $317,374,000,000
2002 $74,743,869 $307,429,000,000
2001 $64,935,850 $299,303,000,000
2000 $74,910,527 $330,725,000,000
1999 $77,323,978 $303,827,000,000
1998 $74,905,706 $279,926,000,000
1997 $80,205,807 $303,315,000,000
1996 $81,456,854 $292,473,000,000
1995 $68,596,395 $279,013,000,000
1994 $67,055,334 $256,213,000,000
1993 $58,953,596 $234,943,000,000
1992 $61,491,369 $222,947,000,000
1991 $41,247,792 $187,100,000,000
1990 $36,534,295 $166,392,000,000
1989 $37,645,319 $152,687,000,000
1988 $38,278,810 $126,378,000,000
1987 $29,554,413 $104,956,000,000
1986 $25,993,009 $78,347,000,000
1985 $26,126,615 $63,599,000,000
1984 $34,394,167 $61,036,000,000
1983 $31,000,546 $54,155,000,000
1982 $32,742,713 $49,540,000,000
1981 $35,267,489 $49,047,000,000
1980 $33,157,723 $42,292,000,000
1979 $34,466,197 $33,875,000,000
1978 $36,563,965 $27,373,000,000
1977 $31,335,459 $22,252,000,000
1976 $33,246,817 $18,988,000,000
1975 $44,547,454 $15,836,000,000
1974 $69,256,489 $14,739,000,000
1973 $25,645,040 $10,940,000,000
1972 $15,314,346 $8,063,000,000
1971 $12,356,134 $6,727,000,000
1970 $11,560,877 $5,785,000,000
1969 - $5,017,000,000
1968 - $4,325,000,000
1967 - $3,709,000,000
1966 - $3,207,000,000
1965 - $2,869,000,000
1964 - $2,592,000,000
1963 - $2,218,000,000
1962 - $1,960,000,000
1961 - $1,778,000,000
1960 - $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Kiribati vs Taiwan by year

Kiribati
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kiribati Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,289 $3,702 $34,238 -
2023 $2,178 $3,486 $32,444 -
2022 $2,070 $3,329 $32,827 -
2021 $2,222 $3,020 $33,111 -
2020 $1,752 $2,711 $28,705 -
2019 $1,751 $2,763 $25,998 -
2018 $1,913 $2,672 $25,901 -
2017 $1,853 $2,562 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $1,743 $2,463 $23,091 -
2015 $1,640 $2,311 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $1,737 $2,084 $22,874 -
2013 $1,772 $2,049 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $1,844 $1,896 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $1,771 $1,786 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $1,522 $1,724 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $1,317 $1,718 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $1,411 $1,735 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $1,353 $1,792 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $1,123 $1,728 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $1,162 $1,617 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $1,083 $1,579 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $1,021 $1,578 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $810 $1,605 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $719 $1,591 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $845 $1,638 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $887 $1,526 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $874 $1,593 $12,820 -
1997 $953 $1,535 $14,020 -
1996 $986 $1,519 $13,641 -
1995 $844 $1,518 $13,119 -
1994 $838 $1,469 $12,150 -
1993 $748 $1,431 $11,242 -
1992 $792 $1,421 $10,768 -
1991 $540 $1,139 $9,125 -
1990 $488 $1,192 $8,205 -
1989 $515 - $7,613 -
1988 $536 - $6,370 -
1987 $424 - $5,350 -
1986 $382 - $4,036 -
1985 $393 - $3,314 -
1984 $527 - $3,224 -
1983 $483 - $2,903 -
1982 $519 - $2,699 -
1981 $568 - $2,720 -
1980 $542 - $2,389 -
1979 $573 - $1,950 -
1978 $611 - $1,606 -
1977 $520 - $1,330 -
1976 $548 - $1,158 -
1975 $730 - $985 -
1974 $1,131 - $934 -
1973 $422 - $706 -
1972 $256.2 - $530 -
1971 $210.7 - $451 -
1970 $201 - $397 -
1969 - - $357 -
1968 - - $319 -
1967 - - $280.8 -
1966 - - $249.1 -
1965 - - $229.3 -
1964 - - $213.6 -
1963 - - $188.6 -
1962 - - $172 -
1961 - - $161.2 -
1960 - - $163.4 -
1959 - - $140.4 -
1958 - - $185.1 -
1957 - - $170.5 -
1956 - - $150.6 -
1955 - - $216.3 -
1954 - - $188.3 -
1953 - - $177.7 -
1952 - - $208.4 -
1951 - - $154.3 -

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Kiribati's GDP per capita is $2,289, ranking 152/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 35/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

Kiribati Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$308M
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank
192/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP growth
5.27%
2023-2024
2.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,289
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
152/197
2024
35/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,702
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
169/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$30.5M
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
9.92%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$226.9
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank
181/185
2024
59/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,967
2026
$18,163
2026
Number of millionaires n/a
759,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
54
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
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.5%
2023-2024
2.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.79%
2023
3.35%
2025
Population
139020
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kiribati
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kiribati Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 98.1% 9.92% 15.8% 26.3%
2023 95.3% 11.4% 17.1% 29%
2022 87.5% 16.3% 16% 29.5%
2021 84% 17.3% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 102.2% 21% 16.2% 32%
2019 108.3% 19% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 108.8% 19% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 92.1% 20.2% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 99% 21.2% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 90.9% 18.8% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 101.2% 8.97% - 37.5%
2013 78% 8.86% - 38.9%
2012 83.9% 8.13% - 39.2%
2011 80.9% 8.8% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 75.7% 9.43% - 36.9%
2009 74.7% 10.3% - 36.7%
2008 79.4% 13.9% - 33.4%
2007 77.3% 11.1% - 32.2%
2006 82.1% 12.9% - 33.3%
2005 95.6% 12.1% - 34.1%
2004 103.8% 13.6% - 33.4%
2003 84.4% 12.3% - 32.1%
2002 96.9% 13.3% - 29.8%
2001 101.3% 17% 22.5% 30.1%
2000 66% 12.7% - 26.2%
1999 77.6% 11.8% - 23.7%
1998 74.7% 9.81% - 23.7%
1997 70.9% 10.7% - 25%
1996 68.4% 11% - -
1995 69.6% 12.3% - -
1994 54.6% 12.3% - -
1993 55.3% 10.9% - -
1992 65.9% 7.31% - -
1991 82.1% 8.43% 25.4% -
1990 105.5% 7.72% - -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - - -
1987 - - - -
1986 - - - -
1985 - - - -
1984 - - - -
1983 - - - -
1982 - - - -
1981 - - 23.6% -
1980 - - - -
1979 - - - -
1978 - - - -
1977 - - - -
1976 - - 21.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

In 2024, Kiribati's government spending was $302M, accounting for 98.1% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 9.92% in Kiribati and 26.3% in Taiwan, ranking 180/185 and 160/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kiribati

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kiribati Taiwan
2024 -22% 0.43%
2023 0.13% -0.61%
2022 -18.3% 0.17%
2021 -10.8% -0.18%
2020 3.57% -1.03%
2019 10.8% 0.11%
2018 5.18% 0.02%
2017 34.1% -0.14%
2016 20.1% -0.31%
2015 42.5% 0.1%
2014 35% -
2013 11.8% -
2012 -5.43% -
2011 -17.6% -2.15%
2010 -7.8% -
2009 -8.56% -
2008 -15.8% -
2007 -12.5% -
2006 -12.3% -
2005 -9.96% -
2004 -19.2% -
2003 -8.93% -
2002 3.13% -
2001 -10.9% -3.71%
2000 -0.03% -
1999 -1.81% -
1998 14.6% -
1997 5.92% -
1996 -20.2% -
1995 -5.14% -
1994 0.74% -
1993 6.27% -
1992 0.79% -
1991 3.87% -4.5%
1990 -4.62% -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -0.78%
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - 1.39%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/taiwan | 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 Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Kiribati recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Kiribati posted an annual deficit equal to 0.38% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.91% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kiribati

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kiribati Taiwan
2024 2.5% 2.2%
2023 9.3% 2.5%
2022 5.3% 2.9%
2021 2.1% 2%
2020 2.6% -0.2%
2019 -1.8% 0.6%
2018 0.6% 1.4%
2017 0.4% 0.6%
2016 1.9% 1.4%
2015 0.6% -0.3%
2014 2.1% 1.2%
2013 -1.5% 0.8%
2012 -3% 1.9%
2011 1.5% 1.4%
2010 -3.9% 1%
2009 9.8% -0.9%
2008 13.7% 3.5%
2007 3.6% 1.8%
2006 -1% 0.6%
2005 -0.4% 2.3%
2004 -0.7% 1.6%
2003 1.6% -0.3%
2002 3.2% -0.2%
2001 6% 0%
2000 0.4% 1.2%
1999 1.8% 0.2%
1998 3.7% 1.7%
1997 2.6% 0.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 28 years, Kiribati has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.25%, compared with 1.14% in Taiwan. In 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Kiribati and 2.2% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

Kiribati Taiwan
Current account balance
-$59.5M
2024
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
85/190
2024
4/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-19.3%
2024
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$227M
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$8.49M
2024
n/a
Service imports
$108M
2024
n/a
Service exports
$7M
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
94.9%
2024
50.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
6.27%
2024
63.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Kiribati Taiwan
Economic freedom 50.8 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 158/197 6/197
Property rights 69.6 83.4
Government integrity 50.5 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 54.6 94.3
Tax burden 72.6 78.9
Government spending 0 90
Fiscal health 19.8 92.9
Business freedom 60.2 78.6
Labor freedom 65.3 69
Monetary freedom 76.7 80.3
Trade freedom 80 86
Investment freedom 30 70
Financial freedom 30 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kiribati
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kiribati Taiwan
2026 50.8 79.8
2025 50.9 79.7
2024 51.3 80
2023 58.8 80.7
2022 59.2 80.1
2021 44.4 78.6
2020 45.2 77.1
2019 47.3 77.3
2018 50.8 76.6
2017 50.9 76.5
2016 46.2 74.7
2015 46.4 75.1
2014 46.3 73.9
2013 45.9 72.7
2012 46.9 71.9
2011 44.8 70.8
2010 43.7 70.4
2009 45.7 69.5
2008 - 70.3
2007 - 69.4
2006 - 69.7
2005 - 71.3
2004 - 69.6
2003 - 71.7
2002 - 71.3
2001 - 72.8
2000 - 72.5
1999 - 71.5
1998 - 70.4
1997 - 70
1996 - 74.1
1995 - 74.2

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Kiribati is 50.8, ranking 158/197, compared to 79.8 for Taiwan, ranking 6/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Kiribati Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
67.1%
2023
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
11.5%
2023
39.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
1.47%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$493M
2024
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,060
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$8.06M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.07M
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$16.4K
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.5%
2023
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.8%
2023
26.7%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.