Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Kiribati instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

live 2.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 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 62.5% more likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Kiribati, that number is 46.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 77.6% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $3,200 as of 2023.

be 31.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Kiribati, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2020.

Life

be 40.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Kiribati, 76.0 women do as of 2020.

have 11.3% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Kiribati, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 27.3% more likely to die during infancy

In South Africa, approximately 25.9 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.

Basic Needs

be 25.0% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Kiribati, about 54.0% do as of 2021.

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

In South Africa, approximately 97% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 90% 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 87.9% more on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Kiribati spends 12.4% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 34.9% more on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Kiribati, that number is 11.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 59.1% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 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.
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How big is Kiribati compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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