The latest officially reported population of Kiribati was 134,518 in 2024 vs 37,548 people in the Marshall Islands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kiribati's population is 139,020 people compared to 35,058 in the Marshall Islands.
Population statistics:
- Kiribati's population is 3.97 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- Kiribati is ranked the 180th most populous country in the world, while the Marshall Islands is the 192nd.
- The countries together account for 0.002% of the world: 0.002% for Kiribati vs 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands.
- For the last 10 years, Kiribati has had an average growth rate of +1.53% per year vs -2.69% in the Marshall Islands.
- Since 2006, the population of Kiribati has increased from 100K people to 139K (39% growth), while the Marshall Islands has declined from 52K to 35.1K (32.6% decline).
Kiribati vs Marshall Islands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Kiribati
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
| 2100 | 224,304 | 23,457 |
| 2099 | 224,298 | 23,536 |
| 2098 | 224,273 | 23,626 |
| 2097 | 224,218 | 23,720 |
| 2096 | 224,129 | 23,797 |
| 2095 | 224,011 | 23,879 |
| 2094 | 223,823 | 23,947 |
| 2093 | 223,610 | 24,022 |
| 2092 | 223,345 | 24,092 |
| 2091 | 222,990 | 24,150 |
| 2090 | 222,603 | 24,198 |
| 2089 | 222,236 | 24,253 |
| 2088 | 221,815 | 24,284 |
| 2087 | 221,342 | 24,314 |
| 2086 | 220,868 | 24,329 |
| 2085 | 220,356 | 24,347 |
| 2084 | 219,806 | 24,355 |
| 2083 | 219,225 | 24,343 |
| 2082 | 218,627 | 24,328 |
| 2081 | 218,023 | 24,317 |
| 2080 | 217,379 | 24,290 |
| 2079 | 216,698 | 24,269 |
| 2078 | 216,006 | 24,226 |
| 2077 | 215,335 | 24,185 |
| 2076 | 214,593 | 24,151 |
| 2075 | 213,814 | 24,096 |
| 2074 | 213,008 | 24,061 |
| 2073 | 212,192 | 24,013 |
| 2072 | 211,363 | 23,982 |
| 2071 | 210,474 | 23,943 |
| 2070 | 209,555 | 23,902 |
| 2069 | 208,630 | 23,869 |
| 2068 | 207,619 | 23,827 |
| 2067 | 206,540 | 23,808 |
| 2066 | 205,477 | 23,775 |
| 2065 | 204,345 | 23,774 |
| 2064 | 203,209 | 23,778 |
| 2063 | 202,011 | 23,791 |
| 2062 | 200,844 | 23,830 |
| 2061 | 199,618 | 23,881 |
| 2060 | 198,339 | 23,929 |
| 2059 | 196,959 | 23,993 |
| 2058 | 195,550 | 24,041 |
| 2057 | 194,095 | 24,118 |
| 2056 | 192,602 | 24,207 |
| 2055 | 191,105 | 24,318 |
| 2054 | 189,574 | 24,424 |
| 2053 | 188,051 | 24,515 |
| 2052 | 186,430 | 24,615 |
| 2051 | 184,824 | 24,727 |
| 2050 | 183,129 | 24,824 |
| 2049 | 181,377 | 24,948 |
| 2048 | 179,576 | 25,060 |
| 2047 | 177,832 | 25,169 |
| 2046 | 176,010 | 25,281 |
| 2045 | 174,194 | 25,407 |
| 2044 | 172,376 | 25,544 |
| 2043 | 170,499 | 25,701 |
| 2042 | 168,651 | 25,860 |
| 2041 | 166,820 | 26,047 |
| 2040 | 165,023 | 26,263 |
| 2039 | 163,172 | 26,507 |
| 2038 | 161,308 | 26,773 |
| 2037 | 159,426 | 27,104 |
| 2036 | 157,529 | 27,461 |
| 2035 | 155,656 | 27,889 |
| 2034 | 153,821 | 28,379 |
| 2033 | 151,958 | 28,934 |
| 2032 | 150,080 | 29,558 |
| 2031 | 148,164 | 30,266 |
| 2030 | 146,257 | 31,070 |
| 2029 | 144,338 | 31,960 |
| 2028 | 142,425 | 32,896 |
| 2027 | 140,456 | 33,927 |
| 2026 | 138,488 | 35,058 |
| 2025 | 136,514 | 36,301 |
| 2024 | 134,518 | 37,548 |
| 2023 | 132,530 | 38,827 |
| 2022 | 130,469 | 40,077 |
| 2021 | 128,377 | 41,367 |
| 2020 | 126,099 | 42,706 |
| 2019 | 123,921 | 44,007 |
| 2018 | 122,084 | 45,285 |
| 2017 | 120,275 | 46,529 |
| 2016 | 118,478 | 47,709 |
| 2015 | 116,815 | 48,800 |
| 2014 | 115,326 | 49,796 |
| 2013 | 113,838 | 50,681 |
| 2012 | 112,284 | 51,419 |
| 2011 | 110,647 | 51,907 |
| 2010 | 108,704 | 52,044 |
| 2009 | 106,467 | 52,019 |
| 2008 | 104,222 | 52,030 |
| 2007 | 102,068 | 52,035 |
| 2006 | 100,017 | 51,992 |
| 2005 | 98,035 | 51,906 |
| 2004 | 96,085 | 51,791 |
| 2003 | 94,175 | 51,639 |
| 2002 | 92,264 | 51,425 |
| 2001 | 90,335 | 51,123 |
| 2000 | 88,613 | 50,706 |
| 1999 | 87,126 | 50,202 |
| 1998 | 85,657 | 49,717 |
| 1997 | 84,147 | 49,259 |
| 1996 | 82,623 | 48,775 |
| 1995 | 81,234 | 48,266 |
| 1994 | 80,021 | 47,712 |
| 1993 | 78,841 | 47,093 |
| 1992 | 77,641 | 46,388 |
| 1991 | 76,367 | 45,568 |
| 1990 | 74,855 | 44,629 |
| 1989 | 73,147 | 43,586 |
| 1988 | 71,427 | 42,321 |
| 1987 | 69,733 | 40,828 |
| 1986 | 68,059 | 39,286 |
| 1985 | 66,496 | 37,761 |
| 1984 | 65,228 | 36,264 |
| 1983 | 64,169 | 34,811 |
| 1982 | 63,134 | 33,397 |
| 1981 | 62,121 | 32,017 |
| 1980 | 61,148 | 30,774 |
| 1979 | 60,172 | 29,738 |
| 1978 | 59,864 | 28,809 |
| 1977 | 60,267 | 27,906 |
| 1976 | 60,661 | 27,021 |
| 1975 | 60,987 | 26,154 |
| 1974 | 61,219 | 25,296 |
| 1973 | 60,824 | 24,581 |
| 1972 | 59,778 | 23,992 |
| 1971 | 58,652 | 23,366 |
| 1970 | 57,510 | 22,530 |
| 1969 | 56,360 | 21,305 |
| 1968 | 55,529 | 19,862 |
| 1967 | 54,996 | 18,655 |
| 1966 | 54,425 | 17,927 |
| 1965 | 53,439 | 17,402 |
| 1964 | 52,088 | 16,852 |
| 1963 | 50,791 | 16,302 |
| 1962 | 49,538 | 15,755 |
| 1961 | 48,323 | 15,219 |
| 1960 | 47,157 | 14,703 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kiribati increased by 18,461 people (a 18.5% growth), while the Marshall Islands lost 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kiribati gained 20,542 people (a 17.3% growth), while the Marshall Islands' population decreased by 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline).
Kiribati was ranked 183rd most populous country in 2006 and is 180th in 2026. The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th in 2006 and ranked 192nd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Kiribati's population will grow by 31.7% to 183,129 people with a rank change from 180th to 178th. The population of the Marshall Islands will decrease by 29.2% to 24,824 people and rank change from 192nd to 193rd.
Kiribati is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 224K people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.5K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
| 2100 | 0.003% | -0.33% |
| 2099 | 0.01% | -0.38% |
| 2098 | 0.02% | -0.4% |
| 2097 | 0.04% | -0.32% |
| 2096 | 0.05% | -0.35% |
| 2095 | 0.08% | -0.28% |
| 2094 | 0.1% | -0.31% |
| 2093 | 0.12% | -0.29% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | -0.24% |
| 2091 | 0.17% | -0.2% |
| 2090 | 0.17% | -0.23% |
| 2089 | 0.19% | -0.13% |
| 2088 | 0.21% | -0.12% |
| 2087 | 0.21% | -0.06% |
| 2086 | 0.23% | -0.08% |
| 2085 | 0.25% | -0.03% |
| 2084 | 0.27% | 0.05% |
| 2083 | 0.27% | 0.06% |
| 2082 | 0.28% | 0.04% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | 0.11% |
| 2080 | 0.31% | 0.09% |
| 2079 | 0.32% | 0.17% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.17% |
| 2077 | 0.35% | 0.14% |
| 2076 | 0.36% | 0.23% |
| 2075 | 0.38% | 0.14% |
| 2074 | 0.38% | 0.2% |
| 2073 | 0.39% | 0.13% |
| 2072 | 0.42% | 0.16% |
| 2071 | 0.44% | 0.17% |
| 2070 | 0.44% | 0.14% |
| 2069 | 0.49% | 0.18% |
| 2068 | 0.52% | 0.08% |
| 2067 | 0.52% | 0.14% |
| 2066 | 0.55% | 0.004% |
| 2065 | 0.56% | -0.02% |
| 2064 | 0.59% | -0.05% |
| 2063 | 0.58% | -0.17% |
| 2062 | 0.61% | -0.21% |
| 2061 | 0.65% | -0.2% |
| 2060 | 0.7% | -0.27% |
| 2059 | 0.72% | -0.2% |
| 2058 | 0.75% | -0.32% |
| 2057 | 0.78% | -0.37% |
| 2056 | 0.78% | -0.46% |
| 2055 | 0.81% | -0.43% |
| 2054 | 0.81% | -0.37% |
| 2053 | 0.87% | -0.41% |
| 2052 | 0.87% | -0.45% |
| 2051 | 0.93% | -0.39% |
| 2050 | 0.97% | -0.5% |
| 2049 | 1% | -0.45% |
| 2048 | 0.98% | -0.43% |
| 2047 | 1.03% | -0.44% |
| 2046 | 1.04% | -0.5% |
| 2045 | 1.05% | -0.54% |
| 2044 | 1.1% | -0.61% |
| 2043 | 1.1% | -0.62% |
| 2042 | 1.1% | -0.72% |
| 2041 | 1.09% | -0.82% |
| 2040 | 1.13% | -0.92% |
| 2039 | 1.16% | -1% |
| 2038 | 1.18% | -1.22% |
| 2037 | 1.2% | -1.3% |
| 2036 | 1.2% | -1.53% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | -1.73% |
| 2034 | 1.23% | -1.92% |
| 2033 | 1.25% | -2.11% |
| 2032 | 1.29% | -2.34% |
| 2031 | 1.3% | -2.59% |
| 2030 | 1.33% | -2.78% |
| 2029 | 1.34% | -2.85% |
| 2028 | 1.4% | -3.04% |
| 2027 | 1.42% | -3.23% |
| 2026 | 1.45% | -3.42% |
| 2025 | 1.48% | -3.32% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | -3.29% |
| 2023 | 1.58% | -3.12% |
| 2022 | 1.63% | -3.12% |
| 2021 | 1.81% | -3.14% |
| 2020 | 1.76% | -2.96% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -2.82% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -2.67% |
| 2017 | 1.52% | -2.47% |
| 2016 | 1.42% | -2.24% |
| 2015 | 1.29% | -2% |
| 2014 | 1.31% | -1.75% |
| 2013 | 1.38% | -1.44% |
| 2012 | 1.48% | -0.94% |
| 2011 | 1.79% | -0.26% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | 0.05% |
| 2009 | 2.15% | -0.02% |
| 2008 | 2.11% | -0.01% |
| 2007 | 2.05% | 0.08% |
| 2006 | 2.02% | 0.17% |
| 2005 | 2.03% | 0.22% |
| 2004 | 2.03% | 0.29% |
| 2003 | 2.07% | 0.42% |
| 2002 | 2.14% | 0.59% |
| 2001 | 1.94% | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 1.71% | 1% |
| 1999 | 1.71% | 0.98% |
| 1998 | 1.79% | 0.93% |
| 1997 | 1.84% | 0.99% |
| 1996 | 1.71% | 1.05% |
| 1995 | 1.52% | 1.16% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | 1.31% |
| 1993 | 1.55% | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 1.67% | 1.8% |
| 1991 | 2.02% | 2.1% |
| 1990 | 2.34% | 2.39% |
| 1989 | 2.41% | 2.99% |
| 1988 | 2.43% | 3.66% |
| 1987 | 2.46% | 3.93% |
| 1986 | 2.35% | 4.04% |
| 1985 | 1.94% | 4.13% |
| 1984 | 1.65% | 4.17% |
| 1983 | 1.64% | 4.23% |
| 1982 | 1.63% | 4.31% |
| 1981 | 1.59% | 4.04% |
| 1980 | 1.62% | 3.48% |
| 1979 | 0.51% | 3.22% |
| 1978 | -0.67% | 3.24% |
| 1977 | -0.65% | 3.28% |
| 1976 | -0.53% | 3.31% |
| 1975 | -0.38% | 3.39% |
| 1974 | 0.65% | 2.91% |
| 1973 | 1.75% | 2.45% |
| 1972 | 1.92% | 2.68% |
| 1971 | 1.99% | 3.71% |
| 1970 | 2.04% | 5.75% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | 7.27% |
| 1968 | 0.97% | 6.47% |
| 1967 | 1.05% | 4.06% |
| 1966 | 1.85% | 3.02% |
| 1965 | 2.59% | 3.26% |
| 1964 | 2.55% | 3.37% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 3.47% |
| 1962 | 2.51% | 3.52% |
| 1961 | 2.47% | 3.51% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Kiribati grew by 1.5%, while the Marshall Islands' population declined by 3.29%.
Live population counters
|
Kiribati
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
139020
|
35058
|
| Population rank | 180/197 | 192/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.0004% |
| One net population change |
4.41 hours
|
6.85 hours
|
| One birth every |
2.56 hours
|
10.7 hours
|
| One death every |
9.39 hours
|
1.35 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | -4 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,988 | -1,279 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.5% | -3.29% |
| Population growth rate rank | 72/197 | 197/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19 hours
|
5.17 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -462 | -1,698 |
| Net migration rank | 88/196 | 97/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,302 | 3,309 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 190/195 | 189/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.5% | 8.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 128/195 | 71/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
Marshall Islands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -462 | - | -1,698 |
| 2024 | - | -471 | - | -1,765 |
| 2023 | 2,487 | -485 | 550 | -1,832 |
| 2022 | 2,522 | -395 | 606 | -1,829 |
| 2021 | 2,408 | -348 | 653 | -2,016 |
| 2020 | 2,497 | 0 | 689 | -2,004 |
| 2019 | 2,560 | -705 | 746 | -2,030 |
| 2018 | 2,561 | -741 | 785 | -2,058 |
| 2017 | 2,549 | -750 | 826 | -2,040 |
| 2016 | 2,546 | -756 | 866 | -2,003 |
| 2015 | 2,555 | -1,022 | 912 | -1,964 |
| 2014 | 2,577 | -1,128 | 959 | -1,906 |
| 2013 | 2,629 | -1,101 | 1,014 | -1,825 |
| 2012 | 2,678 | -1,093 | 1,097 | -1,759 |
| 2011 | 2,709 | -1,019 | 1,185 | -1,512 |
| 2010 | 2,644 | -456 | 1,273 | -1,221 |
| 2009 | 2,573 | -289 | 1,365 | -1,361 |
| 2008 | 2,493 | -289 | 1,443 | -1,467 |
| 2007 | 2,393 | -290 | 1,507 | -1,491 |
| 2006 | 2,285 | -290 | 1,556 | -1,491 |
| 2005 | 2,188 | -226 | 1,586 | -1,482 |
| 2004 | 2,118 | -181 | 1,595 | -1,466 |
| 2003 | 2,045 | -157 | 1,600 | -1,427 |
| 2002 | 2,074 | -137 | 1,594 | -1,345 |
| 2001 | 2,121 | -201 | 1,596 | -1,237 |
| 2000 | 2,153 | -629 | 1,592 | -1,110 |
| 1999 | 2,186 | -733 | 1,590 | -1,068 |
| 1998 | 2,210 | -716 | 1,576 | -1,124 |
| 1997 | 2,220 | -693 | 1,564 | -1,097 |
| 1996 | 2,217 | -701 | 1,542 | -1,050 |
| 1995 | 2,183 | -928 | 1,522 | -991 |
| 1994 | 2,168 | -996 | 1,524 | -942 |
| 1993 | 2,161 | -975 | 1,524 | -869 |
| 1992 | 2,173 | -951 | 1,525 | -769 |
| 1991 | 2,176 | -844 | 1,540 | -661 |
| 1990 | 2,127 | -441 | 1,556 | -562 |
| 1989 | 2,073 | -338 | 1,574 | -479 |
| 1988 | 2,022 | -321 | 1,575 | -140 |
| 1987 | 1,982 | -298 | 1,566 | -16 |
| 1986 | 1,933 | -273 | 1,544 | -8 |
| 1985 | 1,881 | -419 | 1,511 | -1 |
| 1984 | 1,813 | -730 | 1,470 | 6 |
| 1983 | 1,748 | -702 | 1,422 | 12 |
| 1982 | 1,697 | -674 | 1,375 | 23 |
| 1981 | 1,635 | -645 | 1,328 | 31 |
| 1980 | 1,571 | -610 | 1,287 | -155 |
| 1979 | 1,509 | -516 | 1,250 | -316 |
| 1978 | 1,480 | -1,858 | 1,207 | -286 |
| 1977 | 1,426 | -1,854 | 1,160 | -264 |
| 1976 | 1,425 | -1,795 | 1,109 | -233 |
| 1975 | 1,423 | -1,706 | 1,055 | -193 |
| 1974 | 1,430 | -1,605 | 1,000 | -145 |
| 1973 | 1,409 | -440 | 954 | -383 |
| 1972 | 1,406 | -290 | 913 | -306 |
| 1971 | 1,406 | -265 | 877 | -232 |
| 1970 | 1,388 | -233 | 819 | 201 |
| 1969 | 1,367 | -222 | 747 | 690 |
| 1968 | 1,393 | -876 | 685 | 769 |
| 1967 | 1,417 | -873 | 636 | 308 |
| 1966 | 1,437 | -840 | 603 | -89 |
| 1965 | 1,376 | 0 | 566 | -22 |
| 1964 | 1,318 | 0 | 536 | 16 |
| 1963 | 1,273 | 0 | 509 | 42 |
| 1962 | 1,233 | 0 | 488 | 54 |
| 1961 | 1,199 | 0 | 469 | 56 |
| 1960 | 1,141 | 0 | 452 | 63 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 80% of the population change in Kiribati is from natural causes (a gain of 25,262 people) and 20% is from migration (a loss of 6,330 people). In the Marshall Islands 27.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,592 people) and 72.2% is from migration (a loss of 19,682 people).
As of 2024, 3,302 residents or 2.5% of the population were not native-born in Kiribati, compared to 3,309 people or 8.8% in the Marshall Islands.
Biggest cities by population
|
Kiribati
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| South Tarawa | 63.4K |
| London | 1.9K |
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Kiribati and the Marshall Islands
|
Kiribati
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.9 years | 67.3 years |
| Average age | 27 years | 27.5 years |
| Median age | 23.8 years | 21.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.5:51.5 | 51.2:48.8 |
| Fertility rate | 3.15 births per woman | 2.92 births per woman |
| Population density | 443 ppl/mi² | 504 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/marshall-islands | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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