Photo: Photo taken by Government of Kiribati employee in the course of their work · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Kiribati: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
Kiribati is placed 162nd of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 3,364 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 16.11 (2025).
Share
Economy & Innovation
162nd
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 3,364GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 16.11Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- —Economic Complexity Index, 2024No reading for this country
- —Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Kiribati on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
3,364
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
Kiribati: 3,364. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Micronesia
- 19,699 Palau
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Kiribati’s is from 2025 · CC BY 4.0
16.11
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
Kiribati: 16.11. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Micronesia
- 43.02 Micronesia
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
No reading
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Growth Lab at Harvard University publishes no 2024 figure for Kiribati, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Kiribati, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
02Over time
Which way Kiribati is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
KiribatiWorld median
Kiribati rose from 2,482 in 2000 to 3,364 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year Kiribati World median 2025 3,364 17,265 2024 3,275 18,108 2023 3,175 17,686 2022 3,127 16,933 2021 3,024 16,260 2020 2,839 15,631 2019 2,927 16,761 2018 2,875 16,349 2017 2,822 16,129 2016 2,762 15,512 2015 2,616 14,857 2014 2,382 14,475 2013 2,383 14,681 2012 2,242 14,631 2011 2,151 13,916 2010 2,120 14,101 2009 2,138 13,655 2008 2,173 14,030 2007 2,287 13,755 2006 2,264 12,983 2005 2,184 12,023 2004 2,200 11,608 2003 2,258 11,183 2002 2,342 11,144 2001 2,358 10,907 2000 2,482 10,589
03In context
Kiribati beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
Kiribati and Micronesia
Kiribati has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiribati | 162nd | 3,364 | 16.11 | — | — |
 Guam | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Marshall Islands | not placed | 7,660 | — | — | — |
 Micronesia | not placed | 3,935 | 43.02 | — | — |
 Nauru | not placed | 12,135 | — | — | — |
 Northern Mariana Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Palau | not placed | 19,699 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Micronesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below Kiribati in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Kiribati is ahead of the world, and behind
29 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median8
Statistics on which Kiribati does better than the middle country measured.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.1210.197.12▲ Improved since 2019
Kiribati: 10.19 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 60 · derived.
Gini IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 33.7224.7433.72▲ Improved since 2019
Kiribati: 24.74 · world median 33.72 · Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 54.58; lower is better.
Position 57th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1820.9126.18▲ Improved since 2019
Kiribati: 20.91 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 57th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3320.8491.332▲ Improved since 2019
Kiribati: 0.849 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 57th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3957.5652.39No earlier reading
Kiribati: 57.56 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.
Position 49th of 169 · derived.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3330.433▼ Worsened since 2013
Kiribati: 30.4 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 56th of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3964.2223.396▼ Worsened since 2015
Kiribati: 4.222 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 67th of 186 · derived.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06112.73107.06▲ Improved since 2012
Kiribati: 112.73 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 76th of 194 · derived.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Kiribati does worse than the middle country measured.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.419-0.093▲ Improved since 2015
Kiribati: -0.419 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 132nd of 209 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8150.7841.81No earlier reading
Kiribati: 50.78 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 64th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6741.1546.67No real change since 2012
Kiribati: 41.15 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 131st of 195 · derived.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.2395.75106.23▼ Worsened since 2012
Kiribati: 95.75 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 149th of 195 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1923.940.19▲ Improved since 2020
Kiribati: 23.9 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 150th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.0897.32106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
Kiribati: 97.32 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 158th of 195 · derived.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2115.4656.21No real change since 2016
Kiribati: 15.46 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 151st of 175 by UNCTAD.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.425.22725.42▼ Worsened since 2014
Kiribati: 5.227 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.
Position 155th of 170 · derived.
Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.40.39310.4No earlier reading
Kiribati: 0.393 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.8040.306No real change since 2015
Kiribati: 0.804 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1788.7967.17Moved since 2014
Kiribati: 88.79 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.23102.36103.23No real change since 2015
Kiribati: 102.36 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)OECD · 2024 · world median 21.8517.8321.85Moved since 2014
Kiribati: 17.83 · world median 21.85 · Total tax revenue, all levels of government (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.11 to 45.18.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9681.1961.968Moved since 2015
Kiribati: 1.196 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95289.37657.95Moved since 2016
Kiribati: 289.37 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7080.0441.708No real change since 2011
Kiribati: 0.044 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 159th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0612.8522.06Moved since 2014
Kiribati: 12.85 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 125th of 146 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.6022.489.602Moved since 2015
Kiribati: 2.48 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.732.318275.73Moved since 2016
Kiribati: 2.318 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3060.0093.306Moved since 2015
Kiribati: 0.009 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,24012,240No real change since 2022
Kiribati: 1 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
No current reading for Kiribati
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Adjusted Net Savings, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2023), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Complexity Outlook Index, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic (last 2019), Creative Goods Exports (last 2021), Creative Services Exports, Debt Service on External Debt, Economic Complexity Index, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, Frontier Technology Readiness Index, General Government Consumption (last 2024), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Household Consumption (last 2024), ICT Goods Exports (last 2021), ICT Services Exports (last 2021), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) (last 2024), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Interest Payments on External Debt, Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), New Business Density (last 2018), Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products, Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024), Water-Use Efficiency and World Energy Trilemma Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among Kiribati’s 12 topics
Economy & Innovation is Kiribati’s 12th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality12th of 1592/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties29th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality47th of 1832/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience101st of 1933/4 keys
- Energy92nd of 1652/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge116th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture126th of 1842/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing141st of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital139th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions157th of 1942/4 keys
- Digital & Technology173rd of 1983/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation162nd of 1762/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour, Environment & Sustainability, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Kiribati can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia27th4/4 keysThis page
Kiribati162nd2/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Kiribati and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
Kiribati on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Kiribati rank on economy & innovation?
Kiribati is placed 162nd of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP) and Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Kiribati?
3,364 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Kiribati?
16.11 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How have Kiribati’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 2,482 in 2000 to 3,364 in 2025.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Kiribati?
No current reading is published for Kiribati on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Adjusted Net Savings, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Complexity Outlook Index, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic, Creative Goods Exports, Creative Services Exports, Debt Service on External Debt, Economic Complexity Index, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, Frontier Technology Readiness Index, General Government Consumption, Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Household Consumption, ICT Goods Exports, ICT Services Exports, Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Interest Payments on External Debt, Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), New Business Density, Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products, Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP), Water-Use Efficiency and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 29 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Kiribati’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Kiribati (banner) — Photo taken by Government of Kiribati employee in the course of their work, CC BY 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Kiribati: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/kiribati/economy