The latest officially reported population of Kiribati was 134,518 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kiribati's population is 139,020 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 372 times bigger than Kiribati's.
- Kiribati is ranked the 180th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
- The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.002% for Kiribati vs 0.62% for South Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Kiribati has had an average growth rate of +1.53% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Kiribati has increased from 100K people to 139K (39% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).
Kiribati vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 224,304 | 22,012,503 |
| 2099 | 224,298 | 22,335,528 |
| 2098 | 224,273 | 22,668,719 |
| 2097 | 224,218 | 23,009,661 |
| 2096 | 224,129 | 23,360,151 |
| 2095 | 224,011 | 23,722,747 |
| 2094 | 223,823 | 24,093,391 |
| 2093 | 223,610 | 24,473,038 |
| 2092 | 223,345 | 24,860,975 |
| 2091 | 222,990 | 25,255,379 |
| 2090 | 222,603 | 25,655,577 |
| 2089 | 222,236 | 26,060,945 |
| 2088 | 221,815 | 26,470,073 |
| 2087 | 221,342 | 26,884,813 |
| 2086 | 220,868 | 27,301,913 |
| 2085 | 220,356 | 27,723,736 |
| 2084 | 219,806 | 28,147,480 |
| 2083 | 219,225 | 28,578,182 |
| 2082 | 218,627 | 29,012,953 |
| 2081 | 218,023 | 29,456,022 |
| 2080 | 217,379 | 29,901,880 |
| 2079 | 216,698 | 30,352,062 |
| 2078 | 216,006 | 30,809,176 |
| 2077 | 215,335 | 31,273,700 |
| 2076 | 214,593 | 31,744,480 |
| 2075 | 213,814 | 32,221,226 |
| 2074 | 213,008 | 32,706,020 |
| 2073 | 212,192 | 33,196,556 |
| 2072 | 211,363 | 33,696,490 |
| 2071 | 210,474 | 34,203,935 |
| 2070 | 209,555 | 34,719,324 |
| 2069 | 208,630 | 35,241,850 |
| 2068 | 207,619 | 35,762,799 |
| 2067 | 206,540 | 36,292,307 |
| 2066 | 205,477 | 36,826,655 |
| 2065 | 204,345 | 37,368,086 |
| 2064 | 203,209 | 37,916,439 |
| 2063 | 202,011 | 38,469,051 |
| 2062 | 200,844 | 39,028,473 |
| 2061 | 199,618 | 39,584,621 |
| 2060 | 198,339 | 40,149,830 |
| 2059 | 196,959 | 40,712,514 |
| 2058 | 195,550 | 41,277,134 |
| 2057 | 194,095 | 41,833,887 |
| 2056 | 192,602 | 42,377,427 |
| 2055 | 191,105 | 42,909,302 |
| 2054 | 189,574 | 43,427,254 |
| 2053 | 188,051 | 43,938,741 |
| 2052 | 186,430 | 44,441,106 |
| 2051 | 184,824 | 44,923,604 |
| 2050 | 183,129 | 45,385,311 |
| 2049 | 181,377 | 45,832,153 |
| 2048 | 179,576 | 46,258,529 |
| 2047 | 177,832 | 46,668,898 |
| 2046 | 176,010 | 47,056,404 |
| 2045 | 174,194 | 47,433,205 |
| 2044 | 172,376 | 47,797,411 |
| 2043 | 170,499 | 48,144,730 |
| 2042 | 168,651 | 48,478,991 |
| 2041 | 166,820 | 48,806,273 |
| 2040 | 165,023 | 49,115,658 |
| 2039 | 163,172 | 49,412,830 |
| 2038 | 161,308 | 49,694,340 |
| 2037 | 159,426 | 49,957,504 |
| 2036 | 157,529 | 50,200,702 |
| 2035 | 155,656 | 50,426,000 |
| 2034 | 153,821 | 50,632,962 |
| 2033 | 151,958 | 50,821,090 |
| 2032 | 150,080 | 50,987,020 |
| 2031 | 148,164 | 51,134,940 |
| 2030 | 146,257 | 51,267,908 |
| 2029 | 144,338 | 51,385,868 |
| 2028 | 142,425 | 51,486,791 |
| 2027 | 140,456 | 51,576,746 |
| 2026 | 138,488 | 51,649,918 |
| 2025 | 136,514 | 51,710,062 |
| 2024 | 134,518 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 132,530 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 130,469 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 128,377 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 126,099 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 123,921 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 122,084 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 120,275 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 118,478 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 116,815 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 115,326 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 113,838 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 112,284 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 110,647 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 108,704 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 106,467 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 104,222 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 102,068 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 100,017 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 98,035 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 96,085 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 94,175 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 92,264 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 90,335 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 88,613 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 87,126 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 85,657 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 84,147 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 82,623 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 81,234 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 80,021 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 78,841 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 77,641 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 76,367 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 74,855 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 73,147 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 71,427 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 69,733 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 68,059 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 66,496 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 65,228 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 64,169 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 63,134 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 62,121 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 61,148 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 60,172 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 59,864 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 60,267 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 60,661 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 60,987 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 61,219 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 60,824 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 59,778 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 58,652 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 57,510 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 56,360 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 55,529 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 54,996 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 54,425 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 53,439 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 52,088 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 50,791 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 49,538 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 48,323 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 47,157 | 25,012,374 |
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/south-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kiribati increased by 18,461 people (a 18.5% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kiribati gained 20,542 people (a 17.3% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).
Kiribati was ranked 183rd most populous country in 2006 and is 180th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.
Kiribati is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 224K people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 0.003% | -1.45% |
| 2099 | 0.01% | -1.47% |
| 2098 | 0.02% | -1.48% |
| 2097 | 0.04% | -1.5% |
| 2096 | 0.05% | -1.53% |
| 2095 | 0.08% | -1.54% |
| 2094 | 0.1% | -1.55% |
| 2093 | 0.12% | -1.56% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | -1.56% |
| 2091 | 0.17% | -1.56% |
| 2090 | 0.17% | -1.56% |
| 2089 | 0.19% | -1.55% |
| 2088 | 0.21% | -1.54% |
| 2087 | 0.21% | -1.53% |
| 2086 | 0.23% | -1.52% |
| 2085 | 0.25% | -1.51% |
| 2084 | 0.27% | -1.51% |
| 2083 | 0.27% | -1.5% |
| 2082 | 0.28% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | -1.49% |
| 2080 | 0.31% | -1.48% |
| 2079 | 0.32% | -1.48% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | -1.49% |
| 2077 | 0.35% | -1.48% |
| 2076 | 0.36% | -1.48% |
| 2075 | 0.38% | -1.48% |
| 2074 | 0.38% | -1.48% |
| 2073 | 0.39% | -1.48% |
| 2072 | 0.42% | -1.48% |
| 2071 | 0.44% | -1.48% |
| 2070 | 0.44% | -1.48% |
| 2069 | 0.49% | -1.46% |
| 2068 | 0.52% | -1.46% |
| 2067 | 0.52% | -1.45% |
| 2066 | 0.55% | -1.45% |
| 2065 | 0.56% | -1.45% |
| 2064 | 0.59% | -1.44% |
| 2063 | 0.58% | -1.43% |
| 2062 | 0.61% | -1.4% |
| 2061 | 0.65% | -1.41% |
| 2060 | 0.7% | -1.38% |
| 2059 | 0.72% | -1.37% |
| 2058 | 0.75% | -1.33% |
| 2057 | 0.78% | -1.28% |
| 2056 | 0.78% | -1.24% |
| 2055 | 0.81% | -1.19% |
| 2054 | 0.81% | -1.16% |
| 2053 | 0.87% | -1.13% |
| 2052 | 0.87% | -1.07% |
| 2051 | 0.93% | -1.02% |
| 2050 | 0.97% | -0.97% |
| 2049 | 1% | -0.92% |
| 2048 | 0.98% | -0.88% |
| 2047 | 1.03% | -0.82% |
| 2046 | 1.04% | -0.79% |
| 2045 | 1.05% | -0.76% |
| 2044 | 1.1% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | 1.1% | -0.69% |
| 2042 | 1.1% | -0.67% |
| 2041 | 1.09% | -0.63% |
| 2040 | 1.13% | -0.6% |
| 2039 | 1.16% | -0.57% |
| 2038 | 1.18% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 1.2% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | 1.2% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | -0.41% |
| 2034 | 1.23% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 1.25% | -0.33% |
| 2032 | 1.29% | -0.29% |
| 2031 | 1.3% | -0.26% |
| 2030 | 1.33% | -0.23% |
| 2029 | 1.34% | -0.2% |
| 2028 | 1.4% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | 1.42% | -0.14% |
| 2026 | 1.45% | -0.12% |
| 2025 | 1.48% | -0.08% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 0.07% |
| 2023 | 1.58% | 0.08% |
| 2022 | 1.63% | -0.19% |
| 2021 | 1.81% | -0.13% |
| 2020 | 1.76% | 0.14% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | 0.35% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | 0.43% |
| 2017 | 1.52% | 0.28% |
| 2016 | 1.42% | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 1.29% | 0.53% |
| 2014 | 1.31% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 1.38% | 0.46% |
| 2012 | 1.48% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | 1.79% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| 2009 | 2.15% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 2.11% | 0.76% |
| 2007 | 2.05% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 2.02% | 0.53% |
| 2005 | 2.03% | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 2.03% | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 2.07% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 2.14% | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 1.94% | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 1.71% | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 1.71% | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 1.79% | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 1.84% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 1.71% | 0.96% |
| 1995 | 1.52% | 1.01% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 1.55% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 1.67% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 2.02% | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 2.34% | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 2.41% | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 2.43% | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 2.46% | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 2.35% | 1% |
| 1985 | 1.94% | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 1.65% | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 1.64% | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 1.63% | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 1.59% | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 1.62% | 1.57% |
| 1979 | 0.51% | 1.53% |
| 1978 | -0.67% | 1.53% |
| 1977 | -0.65% | 1.57% |
| 1976 | -0.53% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | -0.38% | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 0.65% | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 1.75% | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 1.92% | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 1.99% | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 2.04% | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 0.97% | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 1.05% | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 1.85% | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 2.59% | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 2.55% | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 2.51% | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 2.47% | 3.01% |
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/south-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Kiribati grew by 1.5%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.
Live population counters
|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
139020
|
51649918
|
| Population rank | 180/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
4.41 hours
|
13.7 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.56 hours
|
2.26 minutes
|
| One death every |
9.39 hours
|
1.69 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | +105 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,988 | +38,446 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.5% | +0.07% |
| Population growth rate rank | 72/197 | 160/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19 hours
|
8.02 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -462 | +65,731 |
| Net migration rank | 88/196 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,302 | 1,811,507 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 190/195 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 128/195 | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -462 | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | - | -471 | - | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 2,487 | -485 | -77,569 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | 2,522 | -395 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | 2,408 | -348 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 2,497 | 0 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 2,560 | -705 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 2,561 | -741 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 2,549 | -750 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 2,546 | -756 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 2,555 | -1,022 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 2,577 | -1,128 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 2,629 | -1,101 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 2,678 | -1,093 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 2,709 | -1,019 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 2,644 | -456 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 2,573 | -289 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 2,493 | -289 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 2,393 | -290 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 2,285 | -290 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 2,188 | -226 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 2,118 | -181 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 2,045 | -157 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 2,074 | -137 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 2,121 | -201 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 2,153 | -629 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 2,186 | -733 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 2,210 | -716 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 2,220 | -693 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 2,217 | -701 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 2,183 | -928 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 2,168 | -996 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 2,161 | -975 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 2,173 | -951 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 2,176 | -844 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 2,127 | -441 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 2,073 | -338 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 2,022 | -321 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 1,982 | -298 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 1,933 | -273 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 1,881 | -419 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 1,813 | -730 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 1,748 | -702 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 1,697 | -674 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 1,635 | -645 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 1,571 | -610 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 1,509 | -516 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 1,480 | -1,858 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 1,426 | -1,854 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 1,425 | -1,795 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 1,423 | -1,706 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 1,430 | -1,605 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 1,409 | -440 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 1,406 | -290 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 1,406 | -265 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 1,388 | -233 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 1,367 | -222 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 1,393 | -876 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 1,417 | -873 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 1,437 | -840 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 1,376 | 0 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 1,318 | 0 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 1,273 | 0 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 1,233 | 0 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 1,199 | 0 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 1,141 | 0 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).
As of 2024, 3,302 residents or 2.5% of the population were not native-born in Kiribati, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Kiribati
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| South Tarawa | 63.4K |
| London | 1.9K |
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Seoul | 9.67M |
| Busan | 3.45M |
| Incheon | 3.05M |
| Daegu | 2.38M |
| Daejeon | 1.48M |
| Gwangju | 1.41M |
| Suwon | 1.23M |
| Ulsan | 1.13M |
| Yongin | 1.08M |
| Goyang | 1.06M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Kiribati and South Korea
|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.9 years | 84.6 years |
| Average age | 27 years | 44.8 years |
| Median age | 23.8 years | 46.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.5:51.5 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 3.15 births per woman | 0.72 births per woman |
| Population density | 443 ppl/mi² | 1,371 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/south-korea | 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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