Kiribati
Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati
Micronesia · KIR
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Kiribati
Kiribati is a remote atoll nation where the experience is lagoon life, fishing, and a strong sense of isolation rather than big-name attractions. It works best as a Tarawa-based trip with a focused outer-island extension if logistics allow.
Popular For
Things To See
- South Tarawa
- Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
- Tabuaeran (Fanning Island)
- Abaiang
- Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Flights between island groups are limited and can be infrequent.
- Plan the trip around one island group unless you have extra time for connections.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Kiribati.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Kiribati Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Kiribati.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- South Tarawa
- Population
- 120,740
- Area
- 811 km²
- Region
- Micronesia
Languages
- English
- Gilbertese
Currency
Australian dollar ($)
AUD
Kiribati dollar ($)
KID
1 USD = 1.38 AUD
Cost of Living (World Bank)
61.8
Price level index (US = 100)
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for South Tarawa (1.33°N, 172.98°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
19/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 55/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❓
- Relationship recognitionUnknown
- Adoption recognition❓
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❓
- Legal gender recognition❓
- Conversion therapy ban❓
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.644
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.011
- 10-year change
- +0.031
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.976
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🌿
Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Inscribed 2010
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 22.9%
- Forest cover
- 1.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 2
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 6
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
29/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
61/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Kiribati. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Kiribati. Commercial transportation to/from Kiribati is sporadically available. If you decide to travel to Kiribati: Monitor local media. Bring a sufficient supply of over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Kiribati. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data