Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya
Kenya: Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax) was 16.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya, 1992–2021
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya stood at 16.1%.
The figure is up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya peaked at 34.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 2015.
Kenya ranks 44th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 34.8% | — |
| 1994 | 19.0% | -45.5% |
| 1997 | 19.1% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 15.2% | -29.2% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | +6.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 16.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.2%, 99% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 16.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.3% | 19.0% | 34.8% | 3 |
| 2000s | 21.5% | 21.5% | 21.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 15.2% | 15.2% | 1 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 16.1% | 16.1% | 1 |
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 income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya?
- Income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) in Kenya was 16.1% in 2021, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 2015.
- How does Kenya rank for income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax)?
- Kenya ranks 44th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is income share of the richest 1% vs. gini coefficient (before tax) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 1% vs. Gini coefficient (before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured before taxes and benefits.