The latest officially reported population of Kiribati was 136,488 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kiribati's population is 139,471 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 370 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 +1.54% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Kiribati has increased from 100K people to 139K (39.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).
Kiribati vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 224,260 | 22,001,649 |
| 2099 | 224,254 | 22,324,514 |
| 2098 | 224,229 | 22,657,541 |
| 2097 | 224,174 | 22,998,315 |
| 2096 | 224,085 | 23,348,632 |
| 2095 | 223,967 | 23,711,049 |
| 2094 | 223,780 | 24,081,510 |
| 2093 | 223,566 | 24,460,970 |
| 2092 | 223,301 | 24,848,715 |
| 2091 | 222,947 | 25,242,926 |
| 2090 | 222,560 | 25,642,926 |
| 2089 | 222,192 | 26,048,094 |
| 2088 | 221,771 | 26,457,020 |
| 2087 | 221,299 | 26,871,556 |
| 2086 | 220,824 | 27,288,450 |
| 2085 | 220,313 | 27,710,065 |
| 2084 | 219,763 | 28,133,600 |
| 2083 | 219,182 | 28,564,090 |
| 2082 | 218,584 | 28,998,646 |
| 2081 | 217,980 | 29,441,497 |
| 2080 | 217,336 | 29,887,135 |
| 2079 | 216,656 | 30,337,095 |
| 2078 | 215,964 | 30,793,984 |
| 2077 | 215,293 | 31,258,278 |
| 2076 | 214,551 | 31,728,826 |
| 2075 | 213,772 | 32,205,338 |
| 2074 | 212,966 | 32,689,892 |
| 2073 | 212,150 | 33,180,187 |
| 2072 | 211,321 | 33,679,874 |
| 2071 | 210,433 | 34,187,068 |
| 2070 | 209,514 | 34,702,204 |
| 2069 | 208,590 | 35,224,472 |
| 2068 | 207,578 | 35,745,164 |
| 2067 | 206,500 | 36,274,411 |
| 2066 | 205,437 | 36,808,495 |
| 2065 | 204,305 | 37,349,660 |
| 2064 | 203,169 | 37,897,742 |
| 2063 | 201,971 | 38,450,082 |
| 2062 | 200,805 | 39,009,227 |
| 2061 | 199,579 | 39,565,102 |
| 2060 | 198,300 | 40,130,032 |
| 2059 | 196,920 | 40,692,438 |
| 2058 | 195,512 | 41,256,780 |
| 2057 | 194,057 | 41,813,259 |
| 2056 | 192,565 | 42,356,530 |
| 2055 | 191,068 | 42,888,143 |
| 2054 | 189,537 | 43,405,840 |
| 2053 | 188,014 | 43,917,075 |
| 2052 | 186,393 | 44,419,192 |
| 2051 | 184,788 | 44,901,452 |
| 2050 | 183,093 | 45,362,931 |
| 2049 | 181,341 | 45,809,553 |
| 2048 | 179,541 | 46,235,718 |
| 2047 | 177,797 | 46,645,885 |
| 2046 | 175,976 | 47,033,200 |
| 2045 | 174,160 | 47,409,815 |
| 2044 | 172,343 | 47,773,842 |
| 2043 | 170,465 | 48,120,989 |
| 2042 | 168,618 | 48,455,085 |
| 2041 | 166,788 | 48,782,206 |
| 2040 | 164,991 | 49,091,438 |
| 2039 | 163,140 | 49,388,464 |
| 2038 | 161,276 | 49,669,835 |
| 2037 | 159,395 | 49,932,869 |
| 2036 | 157,498 | 50,175,947 |
| 2035 | 155,626 | 50,401,135 |
| 2034 | 153,791 | 50,607,994 |
| 2033 | 151,928 | 50,796,030 |
| 2032 | 150,051 | 50,961,878 |
| 2031 | 148,135 | 51,109,725 |
| 2030 | 146,228 | 51,242,628 |
| 2029 | 144,310 | 51,360,529 |
| 2028 | 142,397 | 51,461,403 |
| 2027 | 140,429 | 51,551,313 |
| 2026 | 138,461 | 51,624,449 |
| 2025 | 136,488 | 51,684,564 |
| 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
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 20,993 people (a 17.7% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% 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 31.3% to 183,093 people with a rank change from 180th to 178th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 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 | 1.46% | -0.13% |
| 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/south-korea | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Kiribati grew by 1.46%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.
Live population counters
|
Kiribati
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
139471
|
51624449
|
| Population rank | 180/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
4.46 hours
|
7.93 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.57 hours
|
2.16 minutes
|
| One death every |
9.23 hours
|
1.45 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | -182 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,970 | -66,501 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.46% | -0.13% |
| Population growth rate rank | 72/197 | 169/197 |
| 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 | 2,455 | -471 | -119,027 | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 2,487 | -485 | -124,111 | 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 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 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 | 27.2 years | 45.3 years |
| Median age | 23.9 years | 46.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.6:51.4 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 3.12 births per woman | 0.75 births per woman |
| Population density | 443 ppl/mi² | 1,370 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/south-korea | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
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)
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.