Kiribati Rate of Natural Increase

Kiribati’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—remains relatively high compared to some of its Pacific neighbors. As of the early 2020s, Kiribati’s RNI is approximately 1.5% per year, reflecting a birth rate of around 22 per 1,000 people and a death rate of about 7 per 1,000. This rate is higher than that of Fiji, whose RNI is closer to 0.8%, due to Fiji’s lower birth rate and slightly higher death rate. However, Kiribati’s RNI is somewhat lower than the Solomon Islands, where the RNI hovers around 2.1%, driven by a higher fertility rate. In contrast, developed neighbors like Australia and New Zealand have much lower RNIs (often below 0.5%), primarily due to lower birth rates and aging populations. These differences highlight how Kiribati, like many small Pacific island nations, continues to experience moderate natural population growth, while other countries in the region are seeing slower increases or even stagnation due to demographic transitions.

Data from US Census International Database