Kiribati
Kiribati passport ranking
The Kiribati passport is currently ranked 43rd place on the Guide Passport Index. It provides visa-free access to 122 countries. This grants it an overall good mobility score. Kiribati passport holders have visa-free access and visas on arrival to countries such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the entire European Union. However, Kiribati citizens require a visa to enter about 107 destinations. Some countries where a visa is required are Taiwan, the United States and Russia.
Kiribati Passport Ranking
The Kiribati passport ranking relative to other global passports is calculated by adding up the number of countries that allow Kiribati passport holders to enter without a visa (i.e. visa-free countries) and those that allow Kiribati passport holders to enter by obtaining a visa on arrival (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). There are currently a total of 93 Kiribati passport visa-free countries, 27 Kiribati visa-on-arrival countries, and 2 eTA destinations.
Altogether, Kiribati passport holders can enter a total of 122 destinations—either without a visa, through a visa on arrival, or via an eTA. As a result, the Kiribati passport ranks 43 in the world.
Separate from these Kiribati visa-free countries and visa-on-arrival countries, there are 107 additional destinations which Kiribati passport holders either need a physical visa to enter or an eVisa (i.e. visa required countries).
About Kiribati
The Island Republic of Kiribati is a former British colony consisting of 6 districts. The most important district is Tarawa. The country is an island nation with over 33 islands. It is in Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Kiribati geography and terrain are dominated by low lying coral atolls and extensive reefs. Its climate is tropical marine moderated by trade winds. Due to its strategic position, Kiribati played an important role during World War 2. The battle of Tarawa was one of the most important battles in the pacific theatre during the war, which ended in the defeat of the Japanese.
The overall population is approximately 119,94 people. The capital of the country is South Tarawa, which is also the most populous city with 63,439 inhabitants. Other important cities are Betio and Bikenibeu. The country’s largest international airport is Bonriki International Airport (TRW). The airport provides access to all domestic destinations and has one international route to Fiji.
The highest percentage religion in the country is Roman Catholicism followed by the native Kiribati Uniting Church. The official languages are I-Kiribati and English. The Kiribati legal system is based on the English common law and supplemented by customary law. The government form is a presidential republic. The chief of state and head of government is the elected President Taneti Maamau. The Presidential elections are held every 4 years.
The official currency is the Kiribati Dollar (KID), which is permanently pegged to the Australian Dollar AUD at a rate of 1:1. The Australian Dollar is used interchangeably with the Kiribati Dollar. The country has an open economy, generating a GDP of approximately $250 million, making it the 4th lowest GDP in Oceania. Its citizens have a per capita income of $2,135. The GDP is mostly made up of the services and agriculture sector. Up until the year of independence 1979 the mining and export of phosphate was the only economic income. Today, the economy only consists of two main goods of export, which are frozen fish and copra.
The Republic Kiribati has a minor tourism industry. Although it has a variety of beautiful untouched natural reserves and reefs. It is known for its vast beaches, world war 2 history, fishing, surfing and diving. It has one UNESCO world heritage site. Some of the major destinations include Tarawa, Christmas Island, the Outer Gilbert Islands, Butaritari and Tabuaeran. The island nation has a total of approximately 7100 tourists visiting every year with the majority originating from New Zealand and Australia.
