Kiribati is a low-lying island country in the central Pacific Ocean consisting of 33 coral atolls and reef islands spread across an ocean area of more than 3.5 million km², while its total land area is only about 811 km². The islands rise only a few metres above sea level and are composed largely of coral limestone and sandy soils, which limits freshwater availability and agricultural potential. The climate is tropical oceanic, with relatively stable temperatures but highly variable rainfall, typically ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 mm annually, depending on location and seasonal weather patterns.
Human settlement in Kiribati dates back at least 2,000 years, with traditional subsistence systems closely adapted to fragile atoll environments. The islands became part of the British colonial sphere in the 19th century and later formed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony before achieving independence in 1979. Since then, the economy has remained heavily reliant on natural marine resources rather than land-based production.
Agriculture plays only a limited role due to poor soils and scarce freshwater. Less than 5% of the land area is considered arable, and most agricultural activity is subsistence-based. Coconut palms dominate the landscape and support copra production, which remains the principal agricultural export. Annual copra output typically ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes, depending on climatic conditions and global market demand. Other crops include breadfruit, pandanus, taro grown in excavated pits, and bananas, which are primarily cultivated for local consumption. Livestock production is minimal, consisting mainly of small numbers of pigs and poultry.
Forests in the conventional sense are absent, as Kiribati lacks natural woodland ecosystems. Vegetation is largely limited to coconut groves and coastal shrubs, meaning forestry does not constitute a significant economic sector. However, coconut trees function as a critical multipurpose resource, providing timber substitutes, fuel, food and export products.
In contrast, marine resources are central to Kiribati’s primary sector. The country possesses one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones in the Pacific, covering approximately 3.5 million km², which supports substantial fishery resources. Fisheries contribute around 10–15% of GDP directly and far more indirectly through licensing revenues. Total fish production varies but is estimated at 30,000–50,000 tonnes annually, with tuna species forming the backbone of commercial activity. Much of the economic value derives not from domestic harvesting but from access agreements with foreign fishing fleets, which generate significant government revenue.
Subsistence fishing remains vital for food security, with coastal reef fisheries supplying a large share of protein intake. Aquaculture is still limited but includes small-scale seaweed farming and pilot projects in milkfish and giant clam cultivation.
Overall, Kiribati’s primary sector reflects the constraints of atoll geography, where agriculture and forestry are restricted by environmental conditions, and economic sustainability depends heavily on the productive use and management of extensive marine resources.
In 2018, we spent three days on Kiribati on Tawara, the main island. There we saw the bunkers that were left over from World War II. The many people – the island is really very crowded – use them as homes or as protection against flooding. Climate change is a reality here, but sandbags are unlikely to help much. The lagoon is very dirty (sewage, rubbish), and there is a lot of plastic waste from the Pacific Ocean on the coast. Kiribati has a cooperation agreement with German fishing companies, which also makes use of its vast ocean. The Kiribati people also make excellent ship personnel.