Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 15.1 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 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 9.8 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Kiribati, that number is 46.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 93.7% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $3,200 as of 2023.

be 11.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Kiribati, that number is 30.6% as of 2010.

be 52.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Kiribati, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2020.

Life

have 2.8 times more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Kiribati, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 9.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Kiribati, 76.0 women do as of 2020.

be 11.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 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 44.9% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Kiribati, about 54.0% do as of 2021.

be 17.9% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Korea, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Kiribati, 82% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Kiribati spends 12.4% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 38.1% more on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Kiribati, that number is 11.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 52.6% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 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 Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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