If you lived in Kiribati instead of Cayman Islands, you would:

Health

live 13.9 years less

In Cayman Islands, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024. In Kiribati, that number is 67 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 7.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Cayman Islands, 4.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2008. In Kiribati, that number is 30.6% as of 2010.

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make 97.5% less money

Cayman Islands has a GDP per capita of $104,293 as of 2024, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $2,559 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.2 times more children

In Cayman Islands, there are approximately 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Kiribati, there are 25.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 5.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Cayman Islands, approximately 7.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Kiribati, on the other hand, 38.8 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 10.3% more likely to have internet access

In Cayman Islands, approximately 81.1% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Kiribati, about 89.4% do as of 2024.

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be 17.2% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Cayman Islands, approximately 95% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Kiribati, 79% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 10.4 times more on education

Cayman Islands spends 1.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Kiribati spends 16.4% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 7.1 times more coastline

Cayman Islands has a total of 160 km of coastline. In Kiribati, that number is 1,143 km.

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Infrastructure

find 99.9% less home broadband

Cayman Islands has 56.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Kiribati has 0.0 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 88.2% less CO2

Cayman Islands emits 5.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Kiribati emits 0.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2008–2022). How we calculate this

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 Cayman Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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