Country explorer: Kiribati
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Kiribati is a low-lying, lower-middle-income island nation in the Pacific with a very small population. Its economy has been volatile in recent decades, and is based on fishing, agriculture and tourism.
Kiribati is facing rising sea levels, threatening its existence.
Economy
Kiribati has seen modest fluctuations in GDP per capita amidst a significant portion of its population hovering around various poverty thresholds, lacking comprehensive data on unemployment rates, and experiencing inconsistent inflation rates, mirroring challenges common among lower-middle-income countries yet distinguished by its unique struggle with geographic and resource limitations.
Demographics
Kiribati has experienced a steady population increase, mitigated net migration losses, a gradual decline in fertility rates from over 4 children per woman to approximately 3.3, and an improvement in life expectancy from the mid-60s to over 67 years, indicating a slow but positive transformation in health and demographic patterns similar to trends observed in other lower-middle-income countries.
Basic needs
Kiribati has seen gradual improvements in access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, safely managed drinking water, and sanitation facilities, though these changes highlight both the nation's development challenges and progress, mirroring broader trends among lower-middle-income countries, albeit at a slower pace and lower levels of access.
Human development
Kiribati has experienced moderate progress in human development, marked by gradual improvements in the Human Development Index and reductions in child mortality rate, yet it faces challenges in education outcomes, evidencing a mix of advancements and ongoing concerns akin to its lower-middle-income country peers.
Environment & energy
Kiribati has experienced negligible changes in its minimal forest area and a reliance on oil for electricity production, marking its distinct environmental challenge of limited natural resources compared to its lower-middle-income peers and neighboring Pacific Island nations.
Technology & innovation
Kiribati has demonstrated a significant technological transformation, notably with its rapidly increasing internet usage and mobile subscriptions, showcasing a trend of digital inclusion that aligns with many of its lower-middle-income peers, despite the absence of data on research and development spending and minimal scientific publishing activity.
Culture & society
Kiribati's distinctive blend of high age dependency ratios and low but slightly fluctuating immigration levels mirrors broader trends in Pacific Island nations, hinting at demographic shifts and maintained cultural coherence amidst global changes.
Governance
Due to the absence of specific data across key governance indices, it's challenging to pinpoint the exact nature of the changes in rule of law, corruption perception, civil liberties, and press freedom that Kiribati has undergone in the past two decades, indicating a potential gap in international assessment or focus compared to its peers.