Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.7 years less

In Greenland, the average life expectancy is 70 years (68 years for men, 72 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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be 62.5% more likely to be obese

In Greenland, 28.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Kiribati, that number is 45.6% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 95.6% less money

Greenland has a GDP per capita of $58,499 as of 2023, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $2,559 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.1 times more children

In Greenland, there are approximately 12.0 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 4.4 times more likely to die during infancy

In Greenland, approximately 8.8 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 28.7% more likely to have internet access

In Greenland, approximately 69.5% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Kiribati, about 89.4% do as of 2024.

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be 20.9% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Greenland, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Kiribati, that number is 79% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 64% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Geography

see 97.4% less coastline

Greenland has a total of 44,087 km of coastline. In Kiribati, that number is 1,143 km.

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Infrastructure

find 99.9% less home broadband

Greenland has 32.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Kiribati has 0.0 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 94.4% less CO2

Greenland emits 10.4 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 (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: Greenland vs. Kiribati

Size Comparison · See true size
Greenland is about 2,671 times bigger than Kiribati.
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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 Greenland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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