Kenya: health and care

How much do Kenyans pay for SHA health insurance?

Members of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) contribute 2.75% of household income, according to the Social Health Authority's SHIF Impact Report 2026. The rate applies to salaried workers' gross pay and to informal-sector members, whose income is estimated through a means test. In its first 17 months, October 2024 to March 2026, SHIF registered over 31 million members, processed 9.9 million claims and paid KSh102.7 billion to more than 6,100 health facilities across all 47 counties.

SHIF replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in October 2024. Members are entitled to benefits from the date of registration. The National Treasury's Budget Statement puts registrations at 31.2 million, compared with about 8 million under NHIF.

Official sources: Social Health Authority: SHIF Impact Report 2026 · National Treasury: Budget Statement FY 2026/27

What is Kenya's health budget?

Kenya's national government allocated KSh170.7 billion to the health sector in the 2026/27 budget, 7.3% of the key thematic allocations, according to the National Treasury's Budget Summary. The Treasury lists strengthening primary healthcare networks, community health services, staffing, digitisation and medicine supply chains as health priorities.

County governments also fund health services from their own budgets, so the national figure does not cover all public health spending. Across all sources, current health spending was 4.35% of GDP in 2023, and out-of-pocket payments made up 24.2% of it, according to the World Bank, using WHO data.

Official sources: National Treasury: Budget Summary FY 2026/27 · World Bank: current health expenditure, Kenya

What is the maternal mortality rate in Kenya?

Kenya's maternal mortality ratio was 149 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Bank, using modelled estimates from the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank and UN Population Division). It was 155 in 2022 and 183 in 2021.

The ratio counts women who die from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth, during pregnancy or within 42 days of its end. The modelled estimates fill gaps in death registration and allow comparison across countries, so they differ from figures in Kenya's household surveys, such as the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey run by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Health.

Official sources: World Bank: maternal mortality ratio, Kenya

What is the infant mortality rate in Kenya?

Kenya's infant mortality rate was 34.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to the World Bank, using estimates from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. It was 34.7 in 2023 and 35.5 in 2022. The under-five mortality rate was 38.8 per 1,000 live births in 2024, the World Bank reports.

The infant rate counts babies who die before their first birthday; the under-five rate includes all deaths before age five. Most child deaths in Kenya happen in the first year of life. The estimates combine household surveys, such as the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, with civil registration data.

Official sources: World Bank: infant mortality rate, Kenya · World Bank: under-five mortality rate, Kenya

How many doctors does Kenya have per person?

Kenya had 0.29 medical doctors per 1,000 people in 2023, or about one for every 3,500 people, according to the World Bank, using World Health Organization data. The figure was 0.24 per 1,000 in 2022. The National Treasury's Budget Statement for 2026/27 says 16,810 medical interns have completed internships and 107,831 community health promoters have been recruited and trained.

The doctors figure counts registered physicians, including general practitioners and specialists, and does not include nurses, clinical officers or community health workers, who provide much of Kenya's primary care. Doctors are registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Kenya · National Treasury: Budget Statement FY 2026/27

What is the death rate in Kenya?

Kenya's crude death rate was 7.2 deaths per 1,000 people in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. It was 7.2 in 2023 and 2022 as well. The infant mortality rate was 34.2 per 1,000 live births in 2024, the World Bank reports.

The crude rate divides all deaths in a year by the population, so it is low in countries with a young population, such as Kenya, even where risks at each age are higher. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics publishes registered deaths in its annual Economic Survey.

Official sources: World Bank: crude death rate, Kenya · World Bank: infant mortality rate, Kenya

What is life expectancy in Kenya?

The UN Population Division puts life expectancy at birth in Kenya at 63.8 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 64.3 years; Kenya is 29th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 173rd highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Kenya?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Kenya was 34.2 per 1,000 in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 37.2 per 1,000; Kenya is 31st highest of 48. Worldwide: 37th of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Kenya?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 149 per 100,000. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 39th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 257 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 50th of 192.

What share of GDP does Kenya spend on health care?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 4.4% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.0% of GDP (2017) to 5.4% of GDP (2010). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 4.4% of GDP; Kenya is 25th highest of 48. Worldwide: 142nd of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Kenya?

24.2%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in Kenya for 2023, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 45.2%; its low point was 2021, at 22.7%. It is 36th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 32.4%. Worldwide: 114th of 191.

How many doctors per person does Kenya have?

The WHO puts the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Kenya at 0.29 per 1,000 in 2023. That is the highest since at least 2008. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 0.18 per 1,000; Kenya is 5th highest of 16. Of 58 countries with 2023 data, 44th highest.

How many hospital beds per person does Kenya have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2019, is 1.3 per 1,000. In 2010 the figure was 1.4 per 1,000. It is 6th highest of 18 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.81 per 1,000. Of 136 countries with 2019 data, 100th highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Kenya?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 88.0%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 69.0% (2005) to 96.0% (2015). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 81.0%; Kenya is 14th highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 111th highest.