The U.S. government estimates the total population at 109,000 (July 2018 estimate).  According to the 2015 census, approximately 57 percent of the population is Roman Catholic and 31 percent belongs to the Kiribati Uniting Church (until 2016 known as the Kiribati Protestant Church).  Members who did not accept the 2016 name change continue as the Kiribati Protestant Church.  Five percent of the population belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ.  Groups that together constitute less than 5 percent of the population include the Baha’i Faith (2 percent), Seventh-day Adventist Church (2 percent), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Assemblies of God, and Muslims.  The Church of Jesus Christ states its membership exceeds 12 percent of the population.  Persons with no religious affiliation account for less than 1 percent of the population.  Members of the Catholic Church are concentrated in the northern islands, while Protestants constitute the majority in the southern islands.

Legal Framework

The constitution provides for freedom of conscience (including religion), expression, assembly, and association.  These rights may be limited by law “which is reasonably required” in the interests of public defense, safety, order, morality, or health, or to protect the rights of others.

By law, any religious group with adult members representing no less than 2 percent of the total population (according to the most recent census) must register with the government.  The religious organization submits a request to the Ministry of Women, Youth, and Social Affairs, signed by the head of the group and supported by five other members of the organization.  Also required in the request is information regarding proof of the number of adherents and the religious denomination and name under which the group wishes to be registered.  Although the law requires a religious organization representing 2 percent or more of the population to register, there are no legal consequences for not registering.

There is no mandated religious education in public schools.  Public schools in the country allow a variety of religious groups, including Catholics, Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, and the Church of Jesus Christ, to provide religious education in schools.  Students who opt out of religious education must participate in a supervised study period.

The country is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Government Practices

Most governmental meetings and events began and ended with an ordained minister or other church official delivering a Christian prayer.

The government continued to administer a small grants program for development projects administered by nongovernmental organizations and registered religious organizations.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ said they were free to worship and proselytize.

With a population of approximately 1,000 each, two islands – Arorae and Tamana – remained largely members of the Protestant Kiribati Uniting Church, at 98 percent and 96 percent, respectively, according to the 2015 census, although a small number of Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, the Church of Jesus Christ, and Baha’i adherents were also present.  The residents of these islands continued their “one-church-only” tradition, which they stated was in deference to Protestant missionaries who came to the islands in the 1800s, according to government reports.  On these islands, residents of other religions worshipped in their own homes.  Villagers discouraged religious groups outside the Kiribati Uniting Church from proselytizing or holding meetings.  The Ministry of Women, Youth, and Social Affairs reported receiving no complaints from other groups regarding the tradition.

The U.S. Ambassador to Fiji remained accredited to the government.  The Ambassador and other representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Fiji also visited the country and discussed religious tolerance and practices regarding the treatment of minority groups with government representatives and Church of Jesus Christ leaders.  The embassy utilized social media to promote religious plurality and tolerance, such as posts highlighting diverse religious traditions.