Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) was 36.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Kenya, 1992–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 36.1% for share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Kenya peaked at 36.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 25.4%, in 1997.
Kenya ranks 10th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 26.4% | — |
| 1994 | 25.9% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 25.4% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 36.7% | +44.4% |
| 2015 | 29.4% | -19.9% |
| 2020 | 35.0% | +19.3% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.9% | 25.4% | 26.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 36.7% | 36.7% | 36.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 35.6% | 35.0% | 36.1% | 2 |
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 of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Kenya?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Kenya was 36.1% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.4% in 1997.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices)?
- Kenya ranks 10th out of 119 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.1%. 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 (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices). 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 $2.15 per day.