Kiribati Income Share Top 10%

Kiribati’s share of national income accruing to the top 10 percent of earners fell from 29.20 % in 2006, the all‑time peak, to 22.80 % in 2019, the lowest point recorded in the World Bank series and the 12th‑highest share among 190 economies. The decline of 6.40 percentage points over 13 years signals a modest redistribution of income, although the top‑decile still captures a larger slice than many advanced economies; for example, Sweden recorded a comparable 22.70 % in 2019 while Norway’s share was 22.40 %. The reduction coincides with periods of fiscal consolidation and targeted social programmes aimed at expanding public services in the Pacific island nation, yet the persistence of a high top‑decile share reflects limited diversification of the labour market and reliance on a narrow set of export commodities. If reforms that broaden tax bases and promote inclusive growth are sustained, the top‑10 % share may continue to contract, moving Kiribati closer to the distributional patterns of its peer group.