Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 8.2 years less

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 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 2.9 times more likely to be obese

In Malaysia, 15.6% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Kiribati, that number is 46.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 93.0% less money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $28,400 as of 2022, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $2,000 as of 2022.

be 8.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Kiribati, that number is 30.6% as of 2010.

be 3.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Malaysia, 6.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Kiribati, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2019.

Life

have 38.7% more children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 14.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Kiribati, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Kiribati, 76.0 women do as of 2020.

be 5.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 6.6 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 44.3% less likely to have internet access

In Malaysia, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Kiribati, about 54.0% do as of 2021.

be 15.9% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Malaysia, approximately 98% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 91% 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 3.2 times more on education

Malaysia spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Kiribati spends 12.4% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 2.8 times more on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Kiribati, that number is 11.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 75.6% less coastline

Malaysia has a total of 4,675 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 Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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