Kiribati energy mix & electricity
In 2024, Kiribati generated 40 GWh of electricity. More than half of it, 75%, came from oil; solar power was a distant second with 25%.
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 0.03 | 75% | −25 |
| Solar | 0.01 | 25% | +25 |
| Total | 0.04 | 100% |
Kiribati: electricity in context
In 2024, Kiribati generated 40 GWh of electricity. That is similar to Cook Islands. More than half of it, 75%, came from oil; solar power was a distant second with 25%.
25% of the country’s power came from renewable sources. This puts it 9 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Oceania (41.4%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 500 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average.
Wind and solar together provided 25% of electricity (solar 25%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 74 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2019.
Kiribati generates 297 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 8% of the global average. Kiribati does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Kiribati against the world and Oceania averages.
Solar & wind farms: Kiribati
3 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 4 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 17 MW under construction or planned.
How does Kiribati compare?
Kiribati next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiribati | 25% | 25% | 75% | 500 | 297 | 0 | — | |
| Fiji | 63.5% | 63.5% | 36.5% | 278 | 1,238 | 1.2 | Compare | |
| New Caledonia | 26.9% | 26.9% | 73.1% | 561 | 10,661 | 3.1 | Compare | |
| Papua New Guinea | 23.7% | 23.7% | 76.3% | 514 | 447 | 4.7 | Compare | |
| Guam | 8.6% | 8.6% | 91.4% | 608 | 11,085 | 1.9 | Compare | |
| New Zealand | 88.5% | 88.5% | 11.5% | 93 | 8,252 | 43.3 | Compare | |
| Japan | 23.6% | 32.7% | 67.3% | 477 | 8,366 | 1,030 | Compare | |
| Oceania average | 41.4% | 41.4% | 58.6% | 495 | 7,331 | 338 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Kiribati
Kiribati energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Kiribati is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Kiribati?
How clean is the electricity in Kiribati?
How much electricity does Kiribati use per person?
How much solar power does Kiribati produce?
More countries in Oceania
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.