Kiribati Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 198th
MPR SCORE: 116
MPR Index: 0.0026 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9452 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.879 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Kiribati ranks 198th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Comprising 33 atolls and reef islands scattered across the central Pacific Ocean, Kiribati maintains no standing military force. The country’s security is handled by the Kiribati Police Service, which includes a Maritime Unit responsible for law enforcement, coastal patrols, and disaster response coordination. Lacking combat capabilities, Kiribati relies entirely on international partnerships—particularly with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan—for defense support, surveillance cooperation, and regional stability efforts. Its geographic isolation and climate vulnerability have shaped a national security posture rooted in resilience, sustainability, and external collaboration.

Strengths

1. International Defense Support from Key Partners

Kiribati benefits from defense and security assistance from Australia (under the Pacific Maritime Security Program), New Zealand, and Japan, which provide patrol boats, surveillance, and training for law enforcement and maritime operations.

2. Focused Maritime Enforcement and EEZ Protection

The Kiribati Maritime Unit patrols parts of one of the world’s largest exclusive economic zones (EEZs), enforcing fishing regulations and preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) activities with the aid of foreign surveillance assets.

3. Disaster Response Integration and Climate Preparedness

Due to its exposure to rising sea levels, cyclones, and flooding, Kiribati has integrated civil protection and early-warning systems into its law enforcement agencies, giving its limited forces extensive practice in disaster response and population evacuation.

4. Strategic Relevance in Pacific Stability

Although lacking military power, Kiribati’s location in the central Pacific gives it quiet geopolitical value, especially in the context of great power competition and regional infrastructure access for Australia, the U.S., and China.

Why Kiribati Is Still Ranked 198th

No Standing Military or Defense Infrastructure: Kiribati lacks an army, navy, or air force, and has no combat personnel, weapons systems, or bases capable of hosting or projecting force.
Zero Deterrence or Force Projection Capability: The country possesses no strategic assets such as air defense, heavy patrol ships, or artillery—its defense relies entirely on international goodwill and treaty partners.
Highly Dependent on External Assistance: All meaningful defense support—including vessel maintenance, surveillance, and emergency deployment—comes from Australia and allied nations, limiting sovereign security autonomy.
Minimal Security Force Size and Scope: The Kiribati Police Service is small and designed solely for civil enforcement, with a narrow maritime role focused on fisheries and internal law and order.

Conclusion

Kiribati’s ranking of 198th reflects its lack of a national military, full dependence on external defense partnerships, and its role as a non-combatant, climate-vulnerable island state. The country’s security is oriented around maritime policing, disaster resilience, and external strategic cooperation, with foreign partners ensuring its sovereignty and regional integration. While unable to independently defend its territory, Kiribati plays a constructive role in Pacific stability through its diplomatic alignment, ocean stewardship, and peaceful security posture.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: None (defense provided by international partners)
Reserve Personnel: None
Paramilitary Forces: 100 (Police and Maritime Surveillance Unit)
Army Personnel: None
Navy Personnel (Maritime Surveillance Unit): 50
Air Force Personnel: None

Ground Forces

Kiribati has no standing army, and internal security is maintained by the police force and the maritime surveillance unit, which focuses on enforcing domestic law and protecting the country's maritime resources.

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): None
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): None

Air Wing

Kiribati does not maintain an air force, with all aerial defense and patrol duties handled by international partners, mainly Australia and New Zealand.

Naval Forces (Maritime Surveillance Unit)

The Maritime Surveillance Unit in Kiribati operates patrol boats that focus on protecting the nation’s extensive exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from illegal fishing and other maritime threats.

Patrol Boats: 2

Missile Capabilities

Kiribati does not possess any missile capabilities, as its defense strategy relies on international partnerships and regional cooperation for military support.

Strategic Partnerships

Kiribati relies on its partnerships with Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific nations for defense. The country participates in regional security frameworks and agreements, such as the Pacific Islands Forum, to ensure stability and security in the region.

Military History & Combat Experience

Kiribati has no history of war, military deployment, or internal conflict involving armed forces. Its modern security activities are centered on law enforcement, coastal surveillance, and climate-related emergency response, with limited operational capacity and no combat exposure.

Post-Independence Non-Militarization Policy (Since 1979)
Upon gaining independence in 1979, Kiribati opted not to establish a military, focusing instead on neutrality, diplomacy, and civil policing. National security responsibilities were delegated to the Kiribati Police Service, which oversees public order, border control, and emergency coordination.
Maritime Patrol Operations with Foreign Support (Ongoing)
Kiribati’s Maritime Unit operates a Guardian-class patrol boat provided by Australia under the Pacific Maritime Security Program. These patrols, often conducted with surveillance support from Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency aircraft, enforce fisheries laws within the Kiribati EEZ, one of the largest in the world.
Disaster Relief and Coastal Evacuation Readiness
Kiribati has responded to several flooding events, king tides, and storm surges, activating its police and civil defense units to support community evacuation, shelter provision, and relief logistics. These activities form the core of the country’s real-world security deployments.
International Police and Security Training Exercises
Members of the Kiribati Police Service participate in regional training exchanges with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, covering topics such as community policing, crisis management, and border security. Though non-military in nature, these programs provide limited exposure to structured operational environments.

Kiribati has no armed forces and no experience with combat operations. Its national security is shaped by environmental response, international cooperation, and maritime law enforcement, not by any warfighting doctrine. The country exemplifies a peaceful Pacific state model—resilient, reliant, and diplomatically embedded in the region’s defense framework.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~125,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~50,000
Geographic Area: 811 km² (33 atolls and reef islands across 3.5 million km² of ocean)
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Bordering Countries: None (island nation)
Coastline: 1,143 km
Climate: Tropical; marine; hot and humid with pronounced rainy season
Terrain: Low-lying coral atolls with maximum elevation under 3 meters
Natural Resources: Phosphates (depleted), fish, coconuts
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$10 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.0%
GDP (PPP): ~$0.3 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$2,400
External Debt: ~$90 million USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Flat; no standing military, budget used for policing and maritime enforcement

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: No standing military; national security maintained by police and Maritime Unit
Primary Defense Focus: Internal policing, EEZ surveillance, disaster relief
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: None
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Kiribati Police Service under Ministry of Internal Affairs
Missile Inventory Highlights: None
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Not applicable
Reservist Force Size: N/A

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: Basic; no formal military intelligence service
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Australia, Pacific Islands Forum
Airports (Total): ~20 (including airstrips and outer island runways)
Major Military Airports: Bonriki International Airport (dual-use capability)

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: Small
Major Ports: Betio (Tarawa)
Naval Infrastructure: Maritime Unit operates patrol vessels donated by Australia
Naval Replenishment Capability: Basic coastal capability

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: None
Roadways: ~670 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: Fully dependent on imported petroleum products
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Minimal

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Betio (police HQ and maritime base)
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Occasional support from Australia and New Zealand
Defense Alliances: Bilateral security partnerships with Australia; member of Pacific Islands Forum
Strategic Airlift Capability: None
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low