Kiribati: Air transport, passengers carried

Key figures

Over five years it is down 11.55% from 66,567 in 2018 (2.42% a year on average, compounded). Since 1981 it is down 0.2% from 59,000 in 1981. The World Bank has no value for 18 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Kiribati's air transport, passengers carried fell 12.4% on 2022 (from 67,218 to 58,879).

Across the 22 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2022), the average change was −1.1% and a typical year strayed about 18.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 44.9% in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 59.7% in 1985. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, Kiribati had the 140th highest value of the 149 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Kiribati in the 2023 ranking

• Haiti — 137th of 149: 74,542
• Cabo Verde — 138th of 149: 71,784
• Namibia — 139th of 149: 60,304
• Samoa — 141st of 149: 42,120
• Naoero — 142nd of 149: 39,104
• São Tomé and Principe — 143rd of 149: 38,767

What this measures

Air carrier data per country refers to passengers carried by airlines registered in that country regardless of the origin or destination of the passengers.

Limitations: While ICAO aviation data provide a globally standardized and comprehensive view of air transport activity, several limitations affect their accuracy and comparability. Data quality depends on the completeness and consistency of country reporting, which can vary due to differences in national statistical capacity, regulatory environments, and adherence to ICAO definitions. Some countries may not report all relevant data, leading ICAO to estimate missing values using historical submissions and published schedules, which can introduce uncertainty. Changes in airline registration, mergers, or operational practices may also affect the attribution of traffic statistics.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 25 values

Air transport, passengers carried in nearby economies

• Australia — 68.96 million (2023)
• Brunei Darussalam — 820,886 (2023)
• Cambodia — 675,283 (2023)
• China — 619.22 million (2023)
• Fiji — 2.15 million (2023)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 25.7 million (2023)
• Indonesia — 97.05 million (2023)
• Japan — 120.31 million (2023)
• Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 3,690 (2023)
• Korea, Rep. — 76.27 million (2023)
• Lao PDR

More infrastructure data for Kiribati

• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 72,000 (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 53.52 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 14 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 0.01 (2024)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 2.14 (2023)
• Individuals using the Internet (% of population) — 89.44% (2024)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 4,427 (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 0.35 (2023)
• Fixed broadband subscriptions — 47 (2024)
• Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Kiribati's air transport, passengers carried?

58,879 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1981?

It is down 0.2% from 59,000 in 1981. The highest value was 67,218 in 2022 and the lowest 24,000 in 1988.

How does Kiribati rank?

140th highest of 149 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in air transport, passengers carried unusual for Kiribati?

In 2023, Kiribati's air transport, passengers carried fell 12.4% on 2022 (from 67,218 to 58,879). Across the 22 yearly changes before that (1982 to 2022), the average change was −1.1% and a typical year strayed about 18.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IS.AIR.PSGR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), uri: https://data.icao.int/newdataplus/#:~:text=ICAO%20data%20is%20comprised%20of,information%20about%20commercial%20air%20carriers; ICAO Staff estimates, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), uri:… Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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