Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Kenya
Kenya: Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines was 45.5% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Kenya, 1992–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 45.5% for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Kenya peaked at 46.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 1994.
Kenya ranks 9th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 32.0% | — |
| 1994 | 32.0% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 32.6% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 44.6% | +36.8% |
| 2015 | 37.7% | -15.5% |
| 2020 | 44.4% | +18.0% |
| 2021 | 46.4% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 45.5% | -2.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 45.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.7%, 4.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 45.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.8%, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.2% | 32.0% | 32.6% | 3 |
| 2000s | 44.6% | 44.6% | 44.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.7% | 37.7% | 37.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 45.5% | 44.4% | 46.4% | 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 share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Kenya?
- Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Kenya was 45.5% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 46.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 1994.
- How does Kenya rank for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines?
- Kenya ranks 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share in poverty relative to different poverty lines rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.