Urban Population: Kiribati
Kiribati's urban population is currently 62.5% as of 2024. # Kiribati Urban Population Kiribati's urban population reached 62.
Current (2024)
62.5%
+1.5% y/y
Peak (2024)
62.5%
Low (1960)
15.2%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Kiribati
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Kiribati
Analysis# Kiribati Urban Population
Kiribati's urban population reached 62.462% in 2024, marking an all-time high and representing the country's peak urbanization level to date. This figure represents a dramatic shift from 1960, when only 15.22% of the population lived in urban areas—a 310.4% increase over six decades. The nation's urbanization trajectory has been consistently upward, reflecting broader regional development patterns and migration toward population centers.
The acceleration intensified after 2015, when urban population stood at 50.954%. Over the following nine years, the metric climbed steadily, gaining approximately 1.5 percentage points annually. The 2024 figure suggests Kiribati has crossed into a predominantly urban society, with more than six in ten residents now concentrated in urban areas. This sustained growth pattern indicates continued migration pressures and economic centralization likely to persist in coming years.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62.5% | +1.52% |
| 2023 | 61.5% | +1.57% |
| 2022 | 60.6% | +1.57% |
| 2021 | 59.6% | +2.10% |
| 2020 | 58.4% | +3.78% |
| 2019 | 56.3% | +3.28% |
| 2018 | 54.5% | +2.88% |
| 2017 | 53.0% | +2.32% |
| 2016 | 51.8% | +1.60% |
| 2015 | 51.0% | +1.12% |
| 2014 | 50.4% | +0.84% |
| 2013 | 50.0% | +0.78% |
| 2012 | 49.6% | +0.93% |
| 2011 | 49.1% | +1.37% |
| 2010 | 48.5% | +2.34% |
| 2009 | 47.4% | +3.06% |
| 2008 | 45.9% | +2.97% |
| 2007 | 44.6% | +2.03% |
| 2006 | 43.7% | +0.44% |
| 2005 | 43.5% | +0.05% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 43.5% | +0.03% |
| 2003 | 43.5% | +0.03% |
| 2002 | 43.5% | +0.05% |
| 2001 | 43.5% | +0.35% |
| 2000 | 43.3% | +2.43% |
| 1999 | 42.3% | +4.35% |
| 1998 | 40.5% | +5.00% |
| 1997 | 38.6% | +4.19% |
| 1996 | 37.1% | +1.98% |
| 1995 | 36.3% | +0.96% |
| 1994 | 36.0% | +0.76% |
| 1993 | 35.7% | +0.64% |
| 1992 | 35.5% | +0.65% |
| 1991 | 35.3% | +0.78% |
| 1990 | 35.0% | +0.85% |
| 1989 | 34.7% | +0.87% |
| 1988 | 34.4% | +0.87% |
| 1987 | 34.1% | +0.86% |
| 1986 | 33.8% | +0.83% |
| 1985 | 33.5% | +0.74% |
| 1984 | 33.3% | +0.61% |
| 1983 | 33.1% | +0.58% |
| 1982 | 32.9% | +0.62% |
| 1981 | 32.7% | +0.76% |
| 1980 | 32.4% | +0.99% |
| 1979 | 32.1% | +1.70% |
| 1978 | 31.6% | +3.55% |
| 1977 | 30.5% | +5.27% |
| 1976 | 29.0% | +5.74% |
| 1975 | 27.4% | +4.81% |
| 1974 | 26.1% | +2.59% |
| 1973 | 25.5% | +1.53% |
| 1972 | 25.1% | +1.16% |
| 1971 | 24.8% | +1.12% |
| 1970 | 24.5% | +1.42% |
| 1969 | 24.2% | +2.20% |
| 1968 | 23.7% | +3.38% |
| 1967 | 22.9% | +4.65% |
| 1966 | 21.9% | +5.66% |
| 1965 | 20.7% | +6.41% |
| 1964 | 19.5% | +6.87% |
| 1963 | 18.2% | +6.89% |
| 1962 | 17.0% | +6.38% |
| 1961 | 16.0% | +5.20% |
| 1960 | 15.2% | — |
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