Personal Space Etiquette in Kiribati

Personal space is generally smaller in Kiribati than many visitors from urban Western countries expect, especially in homes, village gatherings, and shared transport, so standing a little closer and accepting casual physical proximity is normal. In close-knit island communities, people are used to communal living and frequent interaction, so stepping back too much can seem cold, while privacy is usually respected more by tone and discretion than by physical distance.