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Economy of Kiribati vs Trinidad and Tobago compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Kiribati has a GDP of $349M compared to $25.9B for Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 192/197 and 122/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kiribati has $27.8M in government debt (7.95% of GDP), compared to $21.8B (84.2% of GDP) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Kiribati vs Trinidad and Tobago GDP by year

Kiribati
Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kiribati Trinidad
2025 $349,227,254 $25,942,749,718
2024 $343,153,235 $25,633,544,529
2023 $291,657,338 $25,036,993,423
2022 $271,214,375 $28,341,164,301
2021 $285,451,584 $24,222,963,263
2020 $220,909,307 $20,888,515,184
2019 $216,891,541 $23,477,745,792
2018 $233,859,230 $23,883,058,083
2017 $223,029,865 $23,830,750,901
2016 $206,467,819 $23,624,322,193
2015 $191,559,399 $26,841,141,793
2014 $200,287,282 $29,474,180,005
2013 $201,730,861 $28,560,537,057
2012 $207,001,546 $27,147,349,937
2011 $195,970,140 $25,433,007,437
2010 $165,458,433 $22,157,920,592
2009 $140,177,384 $19,172,165,226
2008 $147,017,895 $27,871,587,350
2007 $138,054,946 $21,641,620,050
2006 $112,338,353 $18,369,361,094
2005 $113,895,437 $15,982,389,018
2004 $104,085,892 $13,280,291,990
2003 $96,105,619 $11,305,459,802
2002 $74,743,869 $9,008,298,229
2001 $64,935,850 $8,824,849,191
2000 $74,910,527 $8,154,342,116
1999 $77,323,978 $6,808,982,521
1998 $74,905,706 $6,043,686,654
1997 $80,205,807 $5,737,771,523
1996 $81,456,854 $5,759,570,336
1995 $68,596,395 $5,329,217,747
1994 $67,055,334 $4,947,181,646
1993 $58,953,596 $4,669,491,134
1992 $61,491,369 $5,439,552,941
1991 $41,247,792 $5,307,905,882
1990 $36,534,295 $5,068,000,000
1989 $37,645,319 $4,323,058,824
1988 $38,278,810 $4,496,910,569
1987 $29,554,413 $4,797,777,778
1986 $25,993,009 $4,794,444,444
1985 $26,126,615 $7,375,918,367
1984 $34,394,167 $7,757,083,333
1983 $31,000,546 $7,763,750,000
1982 $32,742,713 $8,140,416,667
1981 $35,267,489 $6,992,083,333
1980 $33,157,723 $6,235,833,333
1979 $34,466,197 $4,602,416,625
1978 $36,563,965 $3,562,333,458
1977 $31,335,459 $3,138,666,667
1976 $33,246,817 $2,500,424,955
1975 $44,547,454 $2,442,669,825
1974 $69,256,489 $2,042,001,071
1973 $25,645,040 $1,308,785,431
1972 $15,314,346 $1,083,391,758
1971 $12,356,134 $896,765,215
1970 $11,560,877 $821,850,000
1969 - $779,200,000
1968 - $758,899,950
1967 - $761,981,912
1966 - $723,739,857
1965 - $736,573,159
1964 - $711,897,520
1963 - $678,239,329
1962 - $619,322,810
1961 - $584,964,621
1960 - $535,673,252

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

GDP per capita in Kiribati vs Trinidad and Tobago by year

Kiribati
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Trinidad and Tobago
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kiribati Trinidad
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $2,559 - $18,967 -
2024 $2,551 $3,702 $18,733 $36,329
2023 $2,201 $3,486 $18,308 $34,623
2022 $2,079 $3,329 $20,751 $32,979
2021 $2,224 $3,020 $17,713 $30,482
2020 $1,752 $2,711 $15,284 $26,731
2019 $1,750 $2,763 $17,213 $29,316
2018 $1,916 $2,672 $17,571 $28,673
2017 $1,854 $2,562 $17,566 $28,484
2016 $1,743 $2,463 $17,449 $28,232
2015 $1,640 $2,311 $19,887 $29,825
2014 $1,737 $2,084 $21,908 $32,027
2013 $1,772 $2,049 $21,305 $31,746
2012 $1,844 $1,896 $20,332 $31,883
2011 $1,771 $1,786 $19,151 $31,078
2010 $1,522 $1,724 $16,815 $30,778
2009 $1,317 $1,718 $14,634 $29,602
2008 $1,411 $1,735 $21,299 $30,807
2007 $1,353 $1,792 $16,607 $29,355
2006 $1,123 $1,728 $14,153 $27,393
2005 $1,162 $1,617 $12,346 $23,536
2004 $1,083 $1,579 $9,871 $20,674
2003 $1,021 $1,578 $8,445 $18,743
2002 $810 $1,605 $6,763 $16,141
2001 $719 $1,591 $6,657 $14,797
2000 $845 $1,638 $6,179 $13,953
1999 $887 $1,526 $5,179 $12,812
1998 $874 $1,593 $4,613 $11,735
1997 $953 $1,535 $4,394 $10,769
1996 $986 $1,519 $4,427 $9,883
1995 $844 $1,518 $4,115 $9,099
1994 $838 $1,469 $3,840 $8,631
1993 $748 $1,431 $3,647 $8,209
1992 $792 $1,421 $4,277 $8,129
1991 $540 $1,139 $4,205 $7,274
1990 $488 $1,192 $4,047 $6,878
1989 $515 - $3,482 -
1988 $536 - $3,656 -
1987 $424 - $3,941 -
1986 $382 - $3,985 -
1985 $393 - $6,212 -
1984 $527 - $6,613 -
1983 $483 - $6,690 -
1982 $519 - $7,091 -
1981 $568 - $6,160 -
1980 $542 - $5,559 -
1979 $573 - $4,155 -
1978 $611 - $3,258 -
1977 $520 - $2,907 -
1976 $548 - $2,345 -
1975 $730 - $2,319 -
1974 $1,131 - $1,962 -
1973 $422 - $1,273 -
1972 $256.2 - $1,067 -
1971 $210.7 - $894 -
1970 $201 - $829 -
1969 - - $795 -
1968 - - $783 -
1967 - - $797 -
1966 - - $768 -
1965 - - $793 -
1964 - - $780 -
1963 - - $756 -
1962 - - $704 -
1961 - - $678 -
1960 - - $634 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Kiribati's GDP per capita is $2,559, ranking 152/197, compared to $18,967 in Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 65/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702, while Trinidad and Tobago ranks 62nd at $36,329.

Economic indicators

Kiribati Trinidad
Gross domestic product
$349M
2025
$25.9B
2025
GDP rank
192/197
2025
122/197
2025
GDP growth
4.22%
2024-2025
-0.79%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$2,559
2025
$18,967
2025
GDP per capita rank
152/197
2025
65/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,702
2024
$36,329
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
169/197
2024
62/197
2024
Government debt
$27.8M
2025
$21.8B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
7.95%
2025
84.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$203.4
2025
$15,965
2025
Government debt per person rank
181/185
2025
43/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,170
2026
$10,176
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$3.89B
2001
Income share by richest 10%
20.9%
2023
29.9%
1992
Income share by poorest 10%
4.4%
2023
2.1%
1992
Government expenditure, % of GDP
88.2%
2025
32.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
6.5%
2024-2025
0.99%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.5%
2020
Unemployment rate
2.79%
2023
4.01%
2024
Population
139471
1370916

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kiribati
Spending

Debt
Trinidad and Tobago
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kiribati Trinidad
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 88.2% 7.95% 32.4% 84.2%
2024 86.1% 8.9% 32.2% 81.8%
2023 94.4% 11.3% 32.4% 78.2%
2022 87.2% 16.2% 28.3% 69.9%
2021 84% 17.3% 31.4% 80.2%
2020 102.2% 21% 35.1% 81.6%
2019 108.3% 18.5% 31% 62.9%
2018 108.8% 19% 30.2% 58.1%
2017 92.1% 20.2% 30.9% 57.2%
2016 99% 21.2% 31.2% 53.3%
2015 90.9% 18.8% 34.1% 43.2%
2014 101.2% 8.97% 33% 37.1%
2013 78% 8.86% 31.7% 32.9%
2012 83.9% 8.13% 29.9% 32.9%
2011 80.9% 8.8% 30.4% 39.2%
2010 75.7% 9.43% 31.5% 28.9%
2009 74.7% 10.3% 33.4% 34.2%
2008 79.4% 13.9% 28.2% 24.6%
2007 77.3% 11.1% 26.8% 29.4%
2006 82.1% 12.9% 34.6% 32.7%
2005 95.6% 12.1% 29.5% 36.6%
2004 103.8% 13.6% 23.3% 43.3%
2003 84.4% 12.3% 23.5% 52.4%
2002 96.9% 13.3% 24.6% 58.2%
2001 101.3% 17% 25.2% 54.2%
2000 66% 12.7% 24.1% 52.3%
1999 77.6% 11.8% 24.8% 55.2%
1998 74.7% 9.81% 27.3% 47.4%
1997 70.9% 10.7% 27.4% 51.3%
1996 68.4% 11% 28.2% 51.9%
1995 69.6% 12.3% 26.7% 57.3%
1994 54.6% 12.3% 26.5% 64.8%
1993 55.3% 10.9% 27.3% 59.6%
1992 65.9% 7.31% 28.8% 49.5%
1991 82.1% 8.43% 30% 50%
1990 105.5% 7.72% 27.9% 49.5%
1989 - - 30.9% 51.9%
1988 - - 45.3% 65.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1988–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

In 2025, Kiribati's government spending was $308M, accounting for 88.2% of its GDP, while Trinidad and Tobago spent $8.39B, or 32.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 7.95% in Kiribati and 84.2% in Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 182/185 and 37/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kiribati

Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kiribati Trinidad
2025 -14.5% -5.46%
2024 -14.1% -5.92%
2023 1.81% -1.2%
2022 -18.2% 0.96%
2021 -10.8% -8.39%
2020 3.57% -11.8%
2019 10.8% -3.72%
2018 5.18% -5.89%
2017 34.1% -10.5%
2016 20.1% -9.84%
2015 42.5% -7.37%
2014 35% -4.34%
2013 11.8% -2.7%
2012 -5.43% -1.28%
2011 -17.6% -0.69%
2010 -7.8% 0.14%
2009 -8.56% -4.88%
2008 -15.8% 5.7%
2007 -12.5% 3.24%
2006 -12.3% -0.3%
2005 -9.96% 0.84%
2004 -19.2% 1.91%
2003 -8.93% 1.9%
2002 3.13% -0.2%
2001 -10.9% 0.62%
2000 -0.03% 0.18%
1999 -1.81% -0.9%
1998 14.6% -1.83%
1997 5.92% 0.11%
1996 -20.2% -0.46%
1995 -5.14% 0.17%
1994 0.74% -0.02%
1993 6.27% 0.24%
1992 0.79% -2.76%
1991 3.87% -0.21%
1990 -4.62% -1.32%
1989 - -4.46%
1988 - -9.34%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1988–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/trinidad-and-tobago | 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 Trinidad and Tobago's deficit of $1.42B, or 5.46% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Kiribati recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while Trinidad and Tobago ran a deficit in 24 years. On average, Kiribati posted an annual deficit equal to 0.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.11% of GDP for Trinidad and Tobago.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kiribati

Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kiribati Trinidad
2025 6.5% 0.99%
2024 2.5% 0.53%
2023 9.3% 4.63%
2022 5.3% 5.83%
2021 2.1% 2.06%
2020 2.6% 0.6%
2019 -1.8% 1%
2018 0.6% 1.02%
2017 0.4% 1.88%
2016 1.9% 3.07%
2015 0.6% 4.66%
2014 2.1% 5.68%
2013 -1.5% 5.2%
2012 -3% 9.26%
2011 1.5% 5.11%
2010 -3.9% 10.5%
2009 9.8% 6.98%
2008 13.7% 12%
2007 3.6% 7.89%
2006 -1% 8.33%
2005 -0.4% 6.87%
2004 -0.7% 3.72%
2003 1.6% 3.81%
2002 3.2% 4.15%
2001 6% 5.54%
2000 0.4% 3.56%
1999 1.8% 3.44%
1998 3.7% 5.61%
1997 2.6% 3.63%

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/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Kiribati has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.4%, compared with 4.75% in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2025, inflation was 6.5% in Kiribati and 0.99% in Trinidad and Tobago.

Balance of trade

Kiribati Trinidad
Current account balance
-$61.3M
2025
$1.25B
2025
Current account balance ranking
77/190
2025
48/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-17.6%
2025
+4.81%
2025
Goods imports
$270M
2025
$6.83B
2025
Goods exports
$17.3M
2025
$10.2B
2025
Service imports
$110M
2025
$2.8B
2025
Service exports
$8.63M
2025
$1.27B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
97.6%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
4.52%
2024
45%
2026

Economic freedom indices

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

Kiribati Trinidad
Economic freedom 50.8 62.4
Economic freedom ranking 158/197 87/197
Property rights 69.6 47.3
Government integrity 50.5 45.5
Judicial effectiveness 54.6 58.8
Tax burden 72.6 76.1
Government spending 0 71.1
Fiscal health 19.8 86.3
Business freedom 60.2 67.1
Labor freedom 65.3 57.2
Monetary freedom 76.7 81
Trade freedom 80 68.8
Investment freedom 30 50
Financial freedom 30 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kiribati
Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kiribati Trinidad
2026 50.8 62.4
2025 50.9 63.6
2024 51.3 60.4
2023 58.8 59.5
2022 59.2 58.8
2021 44.4 59
2020 45.2 58.3
2019 47.3 57
2018 50.8 57.7
2017 50.9 61.2
2016 46.2 62.9
2015 46.4 64.1
2014 46.3 62.7
2013 45.9 62.3
2012 46.9 64.4
2011 44.8 66.5
2010 43.7 65.7
2009 45.7 68
2008 - 69.5
2007 - 70.6
2006 - 70.4
2005 - 71.5
2004 - 71.3
2003 - 68.8
2002 - 70.1
2001 - 71.8
2000 - 74.5
1999 - 72.4
1998 - 72
1997 - 71.3
1996 - 69.2

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kiribati/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Kiribati is 50.8, ranking 158/197, compared to 62.4 for Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 87/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Kiribati Trinidad
Services, % of GDP
70.3%
2024
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
11.8%
2024
34.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
0.78%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$537M
2025
$25.4B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,080
2025
$36,080
2025
Total reserves including gold n/a
$5.6B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
99/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.14M
2025
$404M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.07M
2024
-$453M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$16.4K
2024
$527M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.5%
2023
20%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29.9%
2024
19%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

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/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1988–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, 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.