Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Kenya
Kenya: Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) was 39.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Kenya, 1992–2022
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 39.8% for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Kenya peaked at 57.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 36.1%, in 2015.
That places Kenya 6th out of 70 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 57.2% | — |
| 1994 | 40.3% | -29.5% |
| 1997 | 52.3% | +29.8% |
| 2005 | 46.8% | -10.5% |
| 2015 | 36.1% | -22.9% |
| 2020 | 42.9% | +18.8% |
| 2021 | 38.6% | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 39.8% | +3.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 39.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.6%, 1.6× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 39.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.9%, 1.1× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.9% | 40.3% | 57.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 46.8% | 46.8% | 46.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 36.1% | 36.1% | 36.1% | 1 |
| 2020s | 40.4% | 38.6% | 42.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More poverty & inequality data for Kenya
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 3 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 3.21 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,758 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 18.96 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 16.07 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 16.1% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Kenya?
- Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Kenya was 39.8% in 2022, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 57.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.1% in 2015.
- How does Kenya rank for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines?
- Kenya ranks 6th out of 70 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line(s). National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. For economies for which the data are from EU-SILC, the reported year is the income reference year, which is the year before the survey year.