Poverty and living standards in Busia, Kenya: official figures
52.7% of people in Busia lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 502,000 people; 13th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 39.8%, 20.16 million people). The line is the cost of basic food and non-food needs per adult per month.
How many people in Busia cannot afford enough food?
45.1% of Busia's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 18.4% were in hardcore poverty, unable to afford it even if they spent everything on food (Kenya: 31.7% and 7.1%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children in Busia live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 54.4% of children under 18 in Busia lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Busia?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 33.4 in Busia in 2022, against 28.9 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Busia go hungry?
57.0% of households in Busia said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 4th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 23.7% received a cash transfer or social assistance (Kenya: 16.8%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyDo people in Busia have clean water and toilets?
57.1% of people in Busia had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 19th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 30.6% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Busia cook with?
7.0% of people in Busia lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 18th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 23.8%); most others cook with wood or charcoal.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyHow Busia compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Busia ranks 13 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Isiolo | 55.6% |
| 11 | Kilifi | 53.0% |
| 12 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 53.0% |
| 13 | Busia | 52.7% |
| 14 | Kwale | 51.1% |
| 15 | Bungoma | 49.2% |
| 16 | Vihiga | 47.9% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Busia ranks 29 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Kericho | 62.5% |
| 27 | Tharaka-Nithi | 61.1% |
| 28 | Homa Bay | 57.2% |
| 29 | Busia | 57.1% |
| 30 | Nyamira | 55.6% |
| 31 | Mandera | 54.0% |
| 32 | Wajir | 52.9% |
More on Busia: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · Kenya
Sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF): Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, Volume 1: county tables (C tables), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 202dd70451a0…)
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: The Kenya Poverty Report 2022 (2022 Kenya Continuous Household Survey): Tables 3.2 and 4.6, Annex Tables A1, B1, C1 and E.2, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3298f81209a…)
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