Share of population living in extreme poverty in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population living in extreme poverty was 61.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Kenya, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in extreme poverty in Kenya is 61.0%, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in Kenya peaked at 100.0% in 1900 and was at its lowest, 54.0%, in 1990.
That places Kenya 2nd out of 25 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 92.0% | — |
| 1830 | 88.0% | -4.3% |
| 1840 | 93.0% | +5.7% |
| 1850 | 96.0% | +3.2% |
| 1860 | 89.0% | -7.3% |
| 1870 | 98.0% | +10.1% |
| 1880 | 70.0% | -28.6% |
| 1890 | 90.0% | +28.6% |
| 1900 | 100.0% | +11.1% |
| 1910 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 97.0% | -3.0% |
| 1940 | 100.0% | +3.1% |
| 1950 | 81.0% | -19.0% |
| 1960 | 74.0% | -8.6% |
| 1970 | 66.0% | -10.8% |
| 1980 | 62.0% | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 54.0% | -12.9% |
| 2000 | 65.0% | +20.4% |
| 2010 | 61.0% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 61.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 92.0% | 92.0% | 92.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 88.0% | 88.0% | 88.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 93.0% | 93.0% | 93.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 96.0% | 96.0% | 96.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 89.0% | 89.0% | 89.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 98.0% | 98.0% | 98.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 70.0% | 70.0% | 70.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 90.0% | 90.0% | 90.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 81.0% | 81.0% | 81.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 66.0% | 66.0% | 66.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 62.0% | 62.0% | 62.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 54.0% | 54.0% | 54.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 65.0% | 65.0% | 65.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 61.0% | 61.0% | 61.0% | 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 in Kenya?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in Kenya was 61.0% in 2018, according to Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1900.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.0% in 1990.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- Kenya ranks 2nd out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population unable to meet basic needs (including minimal nutrition and adequately heated shelter) according to prices of locally-available goods and services at the time..