What is the capital of Kiribati?
South Tarawa is not one town but a chain of low islets, from Betio in the west to Bonriki and Tanaea in the north-east, strung together by the South Tarawa main road and rising only about three metres above the Pacific.
South Tarawa is the capital and seat of government of Kiribati. Kiribati itself has an estimated population of 136,488 (2025).
South Tarawa is also the largest city in Kiribati, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
South Tarawa at a glance
| City population | 73,073 (2026) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇰🇮 Kiribati |
| Largest city in Kiribati | South Tarawa |
| Time zone | UTC+12:00 (GILT) |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) |
About South Tarawa
More than half of the population of Kiribati lives in South Tarawa.
Government functions are spread across the islets: the port and the High Court are at Betio, the State House, the ministries and the foreign embassies are in Bairiki, the House of Assembly is in Ambo, and the University of the South Pacific campus is in Teaoraereke.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: South Tarawa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Kiribati?
Is South Tarawa the largest city in Kiribati?
What is the population of South Tarawa?
Where is South Tarawa located?
What time zone is South Tarawa in?
What currency is used in South Tarawa?
See the full profile of Kiribati on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.