Oceania · #199 · 2025–2026

Kiribati: internet and everyday apps

Kiribati has about 60 thousand people online — a penetration rate of 46.2% and rank #199 worldwide. This page walks through the local digital scene, the app categories people lean on, and 6 apps worth knowing.

Internet users 60 thousand Penetration 46.2% World rank #199 Updated 2026-11-12

TL;DR

Kiribati has roughly 60 thousand internet users (60,000 people) — about 46.2% of the population and rank #199 globally.
The apps people open most: WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram. They cover Messaging, Social, Video and more.
The one to know first: WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.

Kiribati in numbers

2025–2026

Internet users: 60 thousand60,000 · #199
Penetration: 46.2%#170
Population: 130 thousand130,000 · #188
GDP: $0B#214
GDP growth: +4.7%#58
GDP per person: $2,308#174
Land area: 811 km²#181
Capital: Tarawa
Region: Oceania
Official languages: Gilbertese, English

How Kiribati goes online

On Tarawa, Facebook is less a social network than the place where news and community business happen. WhatsApp covers the family chats, and both are used on phones that often share a single connection. Outside the capital, coverage on the outer islands is limited, and some places rely on satellite or a communal terminal. Government and aid projects have pushed new links, but the gap between Tarawa and the outer islands remains the main story. Local content is thin, so people follow relatives and regional pages as much as local ones.

Around 46.2%. With a population of about 130 thousand and 60 thousand online, roughly 70 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.

All 6 apps below are grouped by category.

What people actually use

6 Most-used apps

Messaging

2 Most-used apps →

WhatsApp Messaging · Meta · 2009 Messenger Messaging · Meta · 2011

Video

2 Most-used apps →

YouTube Video · Google · 2005 TikTok Video · ByteDance · 2016

Websites people in Kiribati actually use

The 9 sites locals open most often — news, shopping, search, banking and government services. Every link goes to the official site.

Government3 Travel2 Transport2 Telecom1 Banking1

Government of KiribatiGovernmentkiribati.gov.kiAnything official, from the ferry subsidy to public service jobs, I look for on kiribati.gov.ki. Office of the PresidentGovernmentpresident.gov.kiStatements from the presidency. National Statistics OfficeGovernmentnso.gov.kiCensus results and the economic briefs. Tourism Authority of KiribatiTravelkiribatitourism.gov.kiWhen people ask what there is to do on Tarawa, I send them to the tourism authority site. Visit KiribatiTravelvisitkiribati.comVisit Kiribati is the one I forward to divers asking about the lagoon and the Phoenix Islands. Air KiribatiTransportairkiribati.com.kiTo get from Tarawa to the outer islands you fly Air Kiribati, and seats go fast; the site has the fares and the week schedule. Air KiribatiTransportairkiribati.com.auThe national carrier between the island groups. Telecom Services KiribatiTelecomtskl.net.kiTSKL sells the SIM cards and the top-up cards everybody uses around Tarawa, and the site explains the data bundles before you hand over your money. ANZ KiribatiBankinganz.comThe main bank on the islands.

2808 websites →

Frequently asked questions

6 Q&A

How many people in Kiribati are online?

About 60 thousand (60,000 people). That works out to roughly 46.2% of the population, which puts Kiribati at #199 in the world for total internet users. Figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026, which draws on ITU and national statistics.

Which apps do people in Kiribati use most?

Mostly WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram — they cover Messaging, Social, Video. The full list, grouped by category, is further down this page.

What is the leading Messaging app in Kiribati?

WhatsApp, Messenger dominate this space. The best-known is WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.

How high is internet penetration in Kiribati?

Around 46.2%. With a population of about 130 thousand and 60 thousand online, roughly 70 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.

Where do these app facts come from?

Usage figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026 (Kepios, based on ITU and national statistics); app details come from each product’s official site. Updated 2026-11-12.

Which websites are most popular in Kiribati?

The everyday ones are Government of Kiribati, Tourism Authority of Kiribati, Visit Kiribati, plus the other 9 sites listed above. They cover news, shopping, search, banking and official paperwork, and every link points to the official site.

Sources

Updated 2026-11-12

Cite this pageWorld Sites & Apps. “Kiribati: internet and everyday apps”. 2026. https://abcvv.com/c/ki.html