MigrantoI-Kiribati Diaspora
6.3K I-Kiribati live abroad — the #198 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 86% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Oceania is the leading destination region at 100%
6.3K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Kiribati.
New Zealand is the primary destination for emigrants
New Zealand attracts 48% of all emigrants from Kiribati, while the second-largest destination receives just 25%.
Emigration has become more concentrated over time
The top destination's share rose from 30% to 48%, with New Zealand increasingly the primary choice.
Emigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The emigrant population grew 25% from 5.1K to 6.3K, indicating an acceleration in emigration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 3919 |
| 1995 | 3882 |
| 2000 | 3819 |
| 2005 | 3783 |
| 2010 | 3344 |
| 2015 | 4086 |
| 2020 | 5053 |
| 2024 | 6306 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Kiribati as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Kiribati
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I-Kiribati move to?
Most I-Kiribati have moved to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji — these three countries account for about 86% of all I-Kiribati living abroad.
How many I-Kiribati live abroad?
Around 6.3K I-Kiribati live abroad, making it the #198-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Kiribati changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Kiribati has grown from 4.1K to 6.3K people, a growth of about 54%.
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