Catholic Church

in

Republic of Kiribati (Kiribati)

Also known as: les Kiribati (français), Kiribati (Deutsch, español, Italiano, polski, Português, latine), Quiribati (Português), 基里巴斯 (正體中文), キリバス (日本語)

By Type (1)

Episcopal Sees (Dioceses) Diocese (1)

By Rite

Roman Rite (1): Tarawa and Nauru

by Type | by Name | by Ecclesiastical Province
Changes in Dioceses | Vacant Dioceses | Former Dioceses

Apostolic Nunciature: Kiribati

Conference of Bishops: Conferentia Episcopalis Pacifici (C.E. PAC.)

International Meeting of Bishops’ Conferences: Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (F.C.B.C.O.)

Bishops

All Churches

Special Churches

Cathedrals (1)

Geography

Continent: Oceania

Capital: Tarawa

Area: 811 km²

Population: 108,145

Former Name: Gilbert Islands

Neighbouring Countries: ↙ Tuvalu , ← Micronesia , ← Naoero , ↖ Marshall Islands , ↑ U.S. Minor Islands , ↘ Cook Islands , ↘ French Polynesia , ↓ Tokelau

Cultural Summary

Religions: Roman Catholic 57.3%, Kiribati Uniting Church 31.3%, Mormon 5.3%, Baha'i 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, other 2.1%

Languages: I-Kiribati, English (official)

Ethnic Groups: I-Kiribati 96.2%, I-Kiribati/mixed 1.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.8%

Motto: Te mauri, te raoi ao te tabomoa (Health, Peace and Prosperity)

Statistics (2023.12.31)

Area: 726 km²

Catholic Population: 65,000 Catholics (56.5% of 115,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 22 parishes, 22 mission stations (14 with resident priest, 8 without resident priest), 4 other centres

Clergy: 31 priests (23 diocesan, 8 religious)

Non-Clergy: 75 religious (5 brothers, 70 sisters), 20 major seminarians, 3 missionaries, 226 catechists

Consecrated Persons (Not Ordained)

Seminarians

Lay Missionaries

Catechists

Last updated on 2026.08.24