Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.9 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 years for men, 76 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 6.8 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Kiribati, that number is 46.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 17.6% more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Kiribati, the GDP per capita is $2,000 as of 2022.

be 10.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Kiribati, that number is 30.6% as of 2010.

Life

be 29.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Kiribati, 76.0 women do as of 2020.

have 49.2% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Kiribati, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 48.3% more likely to die during infancy

In North Korea, approximately 22.2 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 76.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 53% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Kiribati, that number is 93% of people on average (88% in urban areas, and 82% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 13.2% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In North Korea, approximately 94% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 89% 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.

Geography

see 54.2% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 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.
Read more

How big is Kiribati compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Kiribati.or North Korea It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.