Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Kiribati instead of Kenya, you would:

Health

live 1.8 years less

In Kenya, the average life expectancy is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Kiribati, that number is 68 years (65 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 6.5 times more likely to be obese

In Kenya, 7.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Kiribati, that number is 46.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 39.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Kenya, 36.1% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Kiribati, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2020.

make 43.9% less money

Kenya has a GDP per capita of $5,700 as of 2023, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $3,200 as of 2023.

be 5.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Kenya, 5.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Kiribati, that number is 30.6% as of 2010.

Life

be 85.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Kenya, approximately 530.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Kiribati, 76.0 women do as of 2020.

be 18.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Kenya, approximately 27.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Kiribati, on the other hand, 32.9 children do as of 2022.

have 23.0% fewer children

In Kenya, there are approximately 25.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Kiribati, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 24.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Kenya, approximately 76% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Kiribati, that number is 94% of people on average (88% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 86.2% more likely to have internet access

In Kenya, approximately 29.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Kiribati, about 54.0% do as of 2021.

be 15.2% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Kenya, approximately 71% of people have improved drinking water access (91% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Kiribati, that number is 82% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on education

Kenya spends 4.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Kiribati spends 12.4% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 2.7 times more on healthcare

Kenya spends 4.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Kiribati, that number is 11.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 2.1 times more coastline

Kenya has a total of 536 km of coastline. In Kiribati, that number is 1,143 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Kiribati: At a glance

Kiribati is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 811 sq km. The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and a colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943. The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
Read more

How big is Kiribati compared to Kenya? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Kiribati.or Kenya It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.