Kiribati

Islam in Kiribati is a tiny minority religion, with a very small presence on this remote island nation in the central Pacific Ocean.

1. Muslim Population
Muslims make up less than 0.01% of the population of Kiribati (total population ~120,000). The Muslim community is estimated to include only a few dozen individuals — mostly converts from the local i-Kiribati population and some immigrants. The overwhelming majority of the country is Christian:

  • Roman Catholic (55%).
  • Kiribati Protestant Church (36%).
  • Other small Christian denominations.

2. History of Islam in Kiribati

  • Islam was introduced to Kiribati in the late 20th or early 21st century, much later than Christianity.
  • The spread of Islam came mainly through the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which has been the only active Islamic group on the islands.
  • The Ahmadiyya missionary efforts led to a few local conversions.

3. Religious Practices
There is one small mosque on the main island of South Tarawa, operated by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Muslims in Kiribati observe:

  • Daily prayers (Salah).
  • Ramadan fasting.
  • Islamic holidays like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Due to the very small size of the community, most activities are informal and home-based.

4. Islamic Organizations

  • The only organized Islamic group is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
  • There is no presence of Sunni or Shia Islamic organizations reported on the islands.
  • The Ahmadiyya group sometimes receives support from the global Ahmadiyya network, especially from Fiji and Australia.

5. Social and Cultural Role

  • Islam has no significant influence on Kiribati’s politics, public life, or culture.
  • The Muslim community is too small to play a public role but is generally free to practice religion without harassment.
  • Interfaith relations are reported to be peaceful, though most locals have limited understanding of Islam.

6. Challenges

  • Geographic isolation makes access to Islamic literature, halal food, and religious scholars difficult.
  • Small community size can lead to social isolation.
  • Christian missionary activity and cultural dominance present challenges for Muslim outreach or growth.

7. Fun Fact
Kiribati is one of the few nations where the Ahmadiyya sect is the sole representation of Islam, unlike in most other countries where Sunni and Shia branches are more dominant.

Kiribati
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .ki
Country Code: +686