The latest officially reported population of Kiribati was 136,488 in 2025 vs 5,324,700 people in New Zealand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kiribati's population is 139,471 people compared to 5,380,024 in New Zealand.
Population statistics:
- New Zealand's population is 38.6 times bigger than Kiribati's.
- Kiribati is ranked the 180th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.002% for Kiribati vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
- For the last 10 years, Kiribati has had an average growth rate of +1.54% per year vs +1.51% in New Zealand.
- Since 2006, the population of Kiribati has increased from 100K people to 139K (39.4% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.38M (28.6% growth).
Kiribati vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2100 | 224,260 | 5,915,768 |
| 2099 | 224,254 | 5,920,061 |
| 2098 | 224,229 | 5,924,133 |
| 2097 | 224,174 | 5,927,189 |
| 2096 | 224,085 | 5,929,831 |
| 2095 | 223,967 | 5,931,770 |
| 2094 | 223,780 | 5,933,105 |
| 2093 | 223,566 | 5,935,725 |
| 2092 | 223,301 | 5,936,005 |
| 2091 | 222,947 | 5,937,584 |
| 2090 | 222,560 | 5,938,671 |
| 2089 | 222,192 | 5,941,788 |
| 2088 | 221,771 | 5,942,552 |
| 2087 | 221,299 | 5,945,502 |
| 2086 | 220,824 | 5,948,659 |
| 2085 | 220,313 | 5,952,187 |
| 2084 | 219,763 | 5,956,025 |
| 2083 | 219,182 | 5,960,521 |
| 2082 | 218,584 | 5,963,849 |
| 2081 | 217,980 | 5,965,417 |
| 2080 | 217,336 | 5,967,986 |
| 2079 | 216,656 | 5,969,234 |
| 2078 | 215,964 | 5,969,831 |
| 2077 | 215,293 | 5,968,708 |
| 2076 | 214,551 | 5,968,290 |
| 2075 | 213,772 | 5,967,889 |
| 2074 | 212,966 | 5,966,738 |
| 2073 | 212,150 | 5,965,412 |
| 2072 | 211,321 | 5,961,455 |
| 2071 | 210,433 | 5,961,400 |
| 2070 | 209,514 | 5,960,718 |
| 2069 | 208,590 | 5,959,460 |
| 2068 | 207,578 | 5,957,827 |
| 2067 | 206,500 | 5,955,348 |
| 2066 | 205,437 | 5,951,452 |
| 2065 | 204,305 | 5,947,293 |
| 2064 | 203,169 | 5,943,767 |
| 2063 | 201,971 | 5,941,828 |
| 2062 | 200,805 | 5,937,757 |
| 2061 | 199,579 | 5,936,521 |
| 2060 | 198,300 | 5,933,016 |
| 2059 | 196,920 | 5,928,350 |
| 2058 | 195,512 | 5,922,743 |
| 2057 | 194,057 | 5,916,754 |
| 2056 | 192,565 | 5,910,221 |
| 2055 | 191,068 | 5,901,290 |
| 2054 | 189,537 | 5,891,739 |
| 2053 | 188,014 | 5,881,824 |
| 2052 | 186,393 | 5,873,115 |
| 2051 | 184,788 | 5,861,135 |
| 2050 | 183,093 | 5,849,861 |
| 2049 | 181,341 | 5,841,135 |
| 2048 | 179,541 | 5,830,154 |
| 2047 | 177,797 | 5,819,016 |
| 2046 | 175,976 | 5,806,848 |
| 2045 | 174,160 | 5,792,780 |
| 2044 | 172,343 | 5,777,886 |
| 2043 | 170,465 | 5,761,590 |
| 2042 | 168,618 | 5,743,549 |
| 2041 | 166,788 | 5,724,283 |
| 2040 | 164,991 | 5,705,914 |
| 2039 | 163,140 | 5,687,068 |
| 2038 | 161,276 | 5,667,019 |
| 2037 | 159,395 | 5,647,323 |
| 2036 | 157,498 | 5,627,207 |
| 2035 | 155,626 | 5,606,247 |
| 2034 | 153,791 | 5,585,417 |
| 2033 | 151,928 | 5,562,621 |
| 2032 | 150,051 | 5,539,615 |
| 2031 | 148,135 | 5,514,530 |
| 2030 | 146,228 | 5,488,472 |
| 2029 | 144,310 | 5,460,094 |
| 2028 | 142,397 | 5,429,936 |
| 2027 | 140,429 | 5,397,099 |
| 2026 | 138,461 | 5,361,990 |
| 2025 | 136,488 | 5,324,700 |
| 2024 | 134,518 | 5,290,000 |
| 2023 | 132,530 | 5,200,000 |
| 2022 | 130,469 | 5,081,700 |
| 2021 | 128,377 | 5,084,600 |
| 2020 | 126,099 | 5,072,400 |
| 2019 | 123,921 | 4,970,300 |
| 2018 | 122,084 | 4,900,600 |
| 2017 | 120,275 | 4,813,600 |
| 2016 | 118,478 | 4,714,100 |
| 2015 | 116,815 | 4,609,400 |
| 2014 | 115,326 | 4,516,500 |
| 2013 | 113,838 | 4,442,100 |
| 2012 | 112,284 | 4,408,100 |
| 2011 | 110,647 | 4,384,000 |
| 2010 | 108,704 | 4,350,700 |
| 2009 | 106,467 | 4,302,600 |
| 2008 | 104,222 | 4,259,800 |
| 2007 | 102,068 | 4,223,800 |
| 2006 | 100,017 | 4,184,600 |
| 2005 | 98,035 | 4,133,900 |
| 2004 | 96,085 | 4,087,500 |
| 2003 | 94,175 | 4,027,200 |
| 2002 | 92,264 | 3,948,500 |
| 2001 | 90,335 | 3,880,500 |
| 2000 | 88,613 | 3,857,700 |
| 1999 | 87,126 | 3,835,100 |
| 1998 | 85,657 | 3,815,000 |
| 1997 | 84,147 | 3,781,300 |
| 1996 | 82,623 | 3,732,000 |
| 1995 | 81,234 | 3,673,400 |
| 1994 | 80,021 | 3,620,000 |
| 1993 | 78,841 | 3,572,200 |
| 1992 | 77,641 | 3,531,700 |
| 1991 | 76,367 | 3,495,100 |
| 1990 | 74,855 | 3,329,800 |
| 1989 | 73,147 | 3,299,200 |
| 1988 | 71,427 | 3,283,400 |
| 1987 | 69,733 | 3,274,400 |
| 1986 | 68,059 | 3,246,300 |
| 1985 | 66,496 | 3,247,100 |
| 1984 | 65,228 | 3,227,100 |
| 1983 | 64,169 | 3,199,300 |
| 1982 | 63,134 | 3,156,100 |
| 1981 | 62,121 | 3,124,900 |
| 1980 | 61,148 | 3,112,900 |
| 1979 | 60,172 | 3,109,000 |
| 1978 | 59,864 | 3,121,200 |
| 1977 | 60,267 | 3,120,200 |
| 1976 | 60,661 | 3,110,500 |
| 1975 | 60,987 | 3,083,100 |
| 1974 | 61,219 | 3,023,700 |
| 1973 | 60,824 | 2,961,300 |
| 1972 | 59,778 | 2,903,900 |
| 1971 | 58,652 | 2,853,000 |
| 1970 | 57,510 | 2,810,700 |
| 1969 | 56,360 | 2,772,800 |
| 1968 | 55,529 | 2,748,100 |
| 1967 | 54,996 | 2,724,100 |
| 1966 | 54,425 | 2,675,900 |
| 1965 | 53,439 | 2,628,400 |
| 1964 | 52,088 | 2,585,400 |
| 1963 | 50,791 | 2,531,800 |
| 1962 | 49,538 | 2,482,000 |
| 1961 | 48,323 | 2,419,700 |
| 1960 | 47,157 | 2,371,800 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kiribati increased by 18,461 people (a 18.5% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kiribati gained 20,993 people (a 17.7% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth).
Kiribati was ranked 183rd most populous country in 2006 and is 180th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Kiribati's population will grow by 31.3% to 183,093 people with a rank change from 180th to 178th. The population of New Zealand will increase by 8.73% to 5,849,861 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.
Kiribati is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 224K people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2100 | 0.003% | -0.07% |
| 2099 | 0.01% | -0.07% |
| 2098 | 0.02% | -0.05% |
| 2097 | 0.04% | -0.04% |
| 2096 | 0.05% | -0.03% |
| 2095 | 0.08% | -0.02% |
| 2094 | 0.1% | -0.04% |
| 2093 | 0.12% | -0.005% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | -0.03% |
| 2091 | 0.17% | -0.02% |
| 2090 | 0.17% | -0.05% |
| 2089 | 0.19% | -0.01% |
| 2088 | 0.21% | -0.05% |
| 2087 | 0.21% | -0.05% |
| 2086 | 0.23% | -0.06% |
| 2085 | 0.25% | -0.06% |
| 2084 | 0.27% | -0.08% |
| 2083 | 0.27% | -0.06% |
| 2082 | 0.28% | -0.03% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | -0.04% |
| 2080 | 0.31% | -0.02% |
| 2079 | 0.32% | -0.01% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.02% |
| 2077 | 0.35% | 0.007% |
| 2076 | 0.36% | 0.007% |
| 2075 | 0.38% | 0.02% |
| 2074 | 0.38% | 0.02% |
| 2073 | 0.39% | 0.07% |
| 2072 | 0.42% | 0.001% |
| 2071 | 0.44% | 0.01% |
| 2070 | 0.44% | 0.02% |
| 2069 | 0.49% | 0.03% |
| 2068 | 0.52% | 0.04% |
| 2067 | 0.52% | 0.07% |
| 2066 | 0.55% | 0.07% |
| 2065 | 0.56% | 0.06% |
| 2064 | 0.59% | 0.03% |
| 2063 | 0.58% | 0.07% |
| 2062 | 0.61% | 0.02% |
| 2061 | 0.65% | 0.06% |
| 2060 | 0.7% | 0.08% |
| 2059 | 0.72% | 0.09% |
| 2058 | 0.75% | 0.1% |
| 2057 | 0.78% | 0.11% |
| 2056 | 0.78% | 0.15% |
| 2055 | 0.81% | 0.16% |
| 2054 | 0.81% | 0.17% |
| 2053 | 0.87% | 0.15% |
| 2052 | 0.87% | 0.2% |
| 2051 | 0.93% | 0.19% |
| 2050 | 0.97% | 0.15% |
| 2049 | 1% | 0.19% |
| 2048 | 0.98% | 0.19% |
| 2047 | 1.03% | 0.21% |
| 2046 | 1.04% | 0.24% |
| 2045 | 1.05% | 0.26% |
| 2044 | 1.1% | 0.28% |
| 2043 | 1.1% | 0.31% |
| 2042 | 1.1% | 0.34% |
| 2041 | 1.09% | 0.32% |
| 2040 | 1.13% | 0.33% |
| 2039 | 1.16% | 0.35% |
| 2038 | 1.18% | 0.35% |
| 2037 | 1.2% | 0.36% |
| 2036 | 1.2% | 0.37% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | 0.37% |
| 2034 | 1.23% | 0.41% |
| 2033 | 1.25% | 0.42% |
| 2032 | 1.29% | 0.45% |
| 2031 | 1.3% | 0.47% |
| 2030 | 1.33% | 0.52% |
| 2029 | 1.34% | 0.56% |
| 2028 | 1.4% | 0.61% |
| 2027 | 1.42% | 0.65% |
| 2026 | 1.45% | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 1.46% | 0.66% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 1.73% |
| 2023 | 1.58% | 2.33% |
| 2022 | 1.63% | -0.06% |
| 2021 | 1.81% | 0.24% |
| 2020 | 1.76% | 2.05% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | 1.42% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | 1.81% |
| 2017 | 1.52% | 2.11% |
| 2016 | 1.42% | 2.27% |
| 2015 | 1.29% | 2.06% |
| 2014 | 1.31% | 1.67% |
| 2013 | 1.38% | 0.77% |
| 2012 | 1.48% | 0.55% |
| 2011 | 1.79% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | 1.12% |
| 2009 | 2.15% | 1% |
| 2008 | 2.11% | 0.85% |
| 2007 | 2.05% | 0.94% |
| 2006 | 2.02% | 1.23% |
| 2005 | 2.03% | 1.14% |
| 2004 | 2.03% | 1.5% |
| 2003 | 2.07% | 1.99% |
| 2002 | 2.14% | 1.75% |
| 2001 | 1.94% | 0.59% |
| 2000 | 1.71% | 0.59% |
| 1999 | 1.71% | 0.53% |
| 1998 | 1.79% | 0.89% |
| 1997 | 1.84% | 1.32% |
| 1996 | 1.71% | 1.6% |
| 1995 | 1.52% | 1.48% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | 1.34% |
| 1993 | 1.55% | 1.15% |
| 1992 | 1.67% | 1.05% |
| 1991 | 2.02% | 4.96% |
| 1990 | 2.34% | 0.93% |
| 1989 | 2.41% | 0.48% |
| 1988 | 2.43% | 0.27% |
| 1987 | 2.46% | 0.87% |
| 1986 | 2.35% | -0.02% |
| 1985 | 1.94% | 0.62% |
| 1984 | 1.65% | 0.87% |
| 1983 | 1.64% | 1.37% |
| 1982 | 1.63% | 1% |
| 1981 | 1.59% | 0.39% |
| 1980 | 1.62% | 0.13% |
| 1979 | 0.51% | -0.39% |
| 1978 | -0.67% | 0.03% |
| 1977 | -0.65% | 0.31% |
| 1976 | -0.53% | 0.89% |
| 1975 | -0.38% | 1.96% |
| 1974 | 0.65% | 2.11% |
| 1973 | 1.75% | 1.98% |
| 1972 | 1.92% | 1.78% |
| 1971 | 1.99% | 1.5% |
| 1970 | 2.04% | 1.37% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| 1968 | 0.97% | 0.88% |
| 1967 | 1.05% | 1.8% |
| 1966 | 1.85% | 1.81% |
| 1965 | 2.59% | 1.66% |
| 1964 | 2.55% | 2.12% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 2.01% |
| 1962 | 2.51% | 2.57% |
| 1961 | 2.47% | 2.02% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Kiribati grew by 1.46%, while New Zealand's population grew by 0.66%.
Live population counters
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
139471
|
5380024
|
| Population rank | 180/197 | 124/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.06% |
| One net population change |
4.46 hours
|
15.2 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.57 hours
|
9.01 minutes
|
| One death every |
9.23 hours
|
13.9 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | +95 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,970 | +34,700 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.46% | +0.66% |
| Population growth rate rank | 72/197 | 118/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19 hours
|
30.3 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -462 | +17,403 |
| Net migration rank | 88/196 | 35/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,302 | 1,467,989 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 190/195 | 45/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.5% | 28.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 128/195 | 20/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -462 | - | 17,403 |
| 2024 | 2,455 | -471 | 20,631 | 18,766 |
| 2023 | 2,487 | -485 | 19,031 | 21,404 |
| 2022 | 2,522 | -395 | 20,276 | 21,404 |
| 2021 | 2,408 | -348 | 23,745 | -14,944 |
| 2020 | 2,497 | 0 | 25,007 | 42,124 |
| 2019 | 2,560 | -705 | 25,349 | 69,770 |
| 2018 | 2,561 | -741 | 24,797 | 59,139 |
| 2017 | 2,549 | -750 | 26,282 | 68,349 |
| 2016 | 2,546 | -756 | 28,237 | 75,512 |
| 2015 | 2,555 | -1,022 | 29,408 | 70,870 |
| 2014 | 2,577 | -1,128 | 26,196 | 57,974 |
| 2013 | 2,629 | -1,101 | 29,096 | 26,385 |
| 2012 | 2,678 | -1,093 | 31,077 | -1,015 |
| 2011 | 2,709 | -1,019 | 31,302 | -2,196 |
| 2010 | 2,644 | -456 | 35,458 | 6,722 |
| 2009 | 2,573 | -289 | 33,560 | 12,700 |
| 2008 | 2,493 | -289 | 35,143 | 4,804 |
| 2007 | 2,393 | -290 | 35,480 | 3,053 |
| 2006 | 2,285 | -290 | 30,924 | 14,542 |
| 2005 | 2,188 | -226 | 30,674 | 19,212 |
| 2004 | 2,118 | -181 | 29,634 | 24,521 |
| 2003 | 2,045 | -157 | 28,150 | 42,456 |
| 2002 | 2,074 | -137 | 25,941 | 48,195 |
| 2001 | 2,121 | -201 | 27,939 | 17,793 |
| 2000 | 2,153 | -629 | 29,897 | -6,604 |
| 1999 | 2,186 | -733 | 28,916 | -7,634 |
| 1998 | 2,210 | -716 | 29,146 | -1,387 |
| 1997 | 2,220 | -693 | 30,137 | 12,040 |
| 1996 | 2,217 | -701 | 28,997 | 25,169 |
| 1995 | 2,183 | -928 | 29,828 | 26,743 |
| 1994 | 2,168 | -996 | 30,372 | 20,420 |
| 1993 | 2,161 | -975 | 31,685 | 12,638 |
| 1992 | 2,173 | -951 | 32,067 | 6,460 |
| 1991 | 2,176 | -844 | 33,518 | 31,156 |
| 1990 | 2,127 | -441 | 33,298 | 70,432 |
| 1989 | 2,073 | -338 | 30,749 | -8,818 |
| 1988 | 2,022 | -321 | 29,846 | -17,005 |
| 1987 | 1,982 | -298 | 27,603 | -7,631 |
| 1986 | 1,933 | -273 | 25,549 | -10,234 |
| 1985 | 1,881 | -419 | 24,126 | -13,462 |
| 1984 | 1,813 | -730 | 26,043 | -901 |
| 1983 | 1,748 | -702 | 24,315 | 11,464 |
| 1982 | 1,697 | -674 | 24,207 | 7,982 |
| 1981 | 1,635 | -645 | 25,374 | -7,606 |
| 1980 | 1,571 | -610 | 23,658 | -15,423 |
| 1979 | 1,509 | -516 | 26,675 | -26,694 |
| 1978 | 1,480 | -1,858 | 26,156 | -28,783 |
| 1977 | 1,426 | -1,854 | 28,020 | -22,697 |
| 1976 | 1,425 | -1,795 | 29,456 | -9,138 |
| 1975 | 1,423 | -1,706 | 31,355 | 13,196 |
| 1974 | 1,430 | -1,605 | 33,896 | 27,580 |
| 1973 | 1,409 | -440 | 35,239 | 28,261 |
| 1972 | 1,406 | -290 | 38,244 | 17,779 |
| 1971 | 1,406 | -265 | 40,000 | 7,547 |
| 1970 | 1,388 | -233 | 37,101 | 4,511 |
| 1969 | 1,367 | -222 | 38,098 | -5,212 |
| 1968 | 1,393 | -876 | 37,594 | -11,853 |
| 1967 | 1,417 | -873 | 37,974 | -2,289 |
| 1966 | 1,437 | -840 | 36,151 | 9,161 |
| 1965 | 1,376 | 0 | 36,982 | 9,245 |
| 1964 | 1,318 | 0 | 39,375 | 9,806 |
| 1963 | 1,273 | 0 | 42,027 | 10,226 |
| 1962 | 1,233 | 0 | 42,865 | 12,697 |
| 1961 | 1,199 | 0 | 43,482 | 10,689 |
| 1960 | 1,141 | 0 | 41,791 | 3,846 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 81.6% of the population change in Kiribati is from natural causes (a gain of 25,140 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 5,673 people). In New Zealand 36% is from natural causes (a gain of 242,763 people) and 64% is from migration (a gain of 432,394 people).
As of 2024, 3,302 residents or 2.5% of the population were not native-born in Kiribati, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.
Biggest cities by population
|
Kiribati
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| South Tarawa | 63.4K |
| London | 1.9K |
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Auckland | 1.47M |
| Christchurch | 383K |
| Wellington | 216K |
| Hamilton | 176K |
| Tauranga | 151K |
| Dunedin | 106K |
| Lower Hutt | 103K |
| Palmerston North | 81.5K |
| Napier | 66.3K |
| Hibiscus Coast | 59.8K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Kiribati and New Zealand
|
Kiribati
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.9 years | 82.5 years |
| Average age | 27.2 years | 40 years |
| Median age | 23.9 years | 38.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.6:51.4 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 3.12 births per woman | 1.57 births per woman |
| Population density | 443 ppl/mi² | 52.7 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/new-zealand | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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