Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Tuvalu instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 1.1 years less

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Tuvalu, that number is 68 years (66 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 21.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Tuvalu, that number is 51.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 23.8% more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Tuvalu, the GDP per capita is $5,200 as of 2023.

be 28.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Tuvalu, however, that number is 26.3% as of 2010.

Life

be 13.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Tuvalu, on the other hand, 28.9 children do as of 2022.

have 19.2% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Tuvalu, there are 22.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 5.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Tuvalu, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 53.1% more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Tuvalu, about 49.0% do as of 2021.

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Tuvalu, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 8.6 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Tuvalu, that number is 21.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 99.5% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Tuvalu, that number is 24 km.

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

Tuvalu: At a glance

Tuvalu is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 26 sq km. In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.
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How big is Tuvalu compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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