MigrantoI-Kiribati Diaspora
6.3K I-Kiribati live abroad — 5% of the population of Kiribati
I-Kiribati diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 86% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 3015 |
| Australia | 1585 |
| Fiji | 808 |
| Nauru | 279 |
| Marshall Islands | 276 |
| Solomon Islands | 253 |
| Tuvalu | 64 |
| Samoa | 10 |
| Slovakia | 7 |
| Bulgaria | 4 |
| Denmark | 2 |
| Norway | 2 |
| Guinea | 1 |
| Hungary | 0 |
| Estonia | 0 |
By region
100% of the diaspora lives in Oceania
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Key facts
The I-Kiribati diaspora in numbers
Most I-Kiribati abroad live in New Zealand
48% of the diaspora lives in New Zealand, while the next country accounts for just 25%.
The diaspora is more concentrated than in 1990
The largest country's share rose from 30% to 48%, and today that country is New Zealand.
The diaspora has grown 25% since 2020
The number of I-Kiribati living abroad rose from 5.1K to 6.3K in four years.
I-Kiribati diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 3919 |
| 1995 | 3882 |
| 2000 | 3819 |
| 2005 | 3783 |
| 2010 | 3344 |
| 2015 | 4086 |
| 2020 | 5053 |
| 2024 | 6306 |
Largest communities over time
I-Kiribati living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | New Zealand | Australia | Fiji | Nauru | Marshall Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 504 | 350 | 710 | 1184 | 94 |
| 1995 | 504 | 395 | 700 | 1095 | 123 |
| 2000 | 504 | 439 | 698 | 1006 | 158 |
| 2005 | 779 | 485 | 701 | 949 | 202 |
| 2010 | 1234 | 598 | 753 | 132 | 259 |
| 2015 | 1822 | 645 | 775 | 209 | 275 |
| 2020 | 2497 | 903 | 793 | 241 | 275 |
| 2024 | 3015 | 1585 | 808 | 279 | 276 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of I-Kiribati in each country has changed since the selected year
I-Kiribati among immigrants in other countries
Where I-Kiribati make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many I-Kiribati live outside Kiribati?
Around 6.3K I-Kiribati live abroad, the world's #198 largest diaspora.
Where do most I-Kiribati abroad live?
Most I-Kiribati live in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji — these three countries account for about 86% of all I-Kiribati living abroad.
Which country has the largest I-Kiribati population outside Kiribati?
New Zealand is home to the largest I-Kiribati community abroad — 3K people, about 48% of all I-Kiribati living abroad.
What share of the population of Kiribati lives abroad?
About 5% of the population of Kiribati lives abroad — that's 6.3K out of a total population of 134.5K.
Is the I-Kiribati diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of I-Kiribati living abroad has grown from 4.1K to 6.3K, about 54%.
Where does the data on the I-Kiribati diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Kiribati who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Kiribati
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