Central (former province): population, poverty, health, schooling, housing and county revenue

Central (former province) is a former province of Kenya, number 4 of 54 by population. Central was one of Kenya's eight provinces until the 2010 Constitution replaced them with 47 counties in 2013. Its area is now 5 counties: Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a and Kiambu.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Central (former province): The counties' combined output (Gross County Product) was KSh 1.57 trillion in 2022, 12.8% of the 47 counties' combined output, about KSh 268,100 per resident (all counties: KSh 242,700).
• Health in Central (former province): 37.9% of people had any health insurance in 2022 (Kenya: 26.3%).
• Poverty and living standards in Central (former province): The most populous county in the former province is Kiambu (2,754,000 in 2025); the poorest by share of people below the poverty line in 2022 was Nyandarua (34.5%) and the least poor Kiambu (19.9%).

More figures

• KNBS projects 6,568,000 people in these counties by 2030, growth of about 1.4% a year from 2025. Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition) · saved copy
• 97.9% of women and 96.4% of men aged 15-49 could read in 2022 (Kenya: 90.9% and 93.8%). Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copy
• The CRA recommended KSh 45.1 billion of shareable revenue for these 5 county governments in 2026/27 (KSh 40.8 billion in 2025/26), about KSh 7,370 per resident. Source: Commission on Revenue Allocation · saved copy

How former provinces are governed in Kenya

Counties (47). Governor and deputy elected on a joint ticket (max two five-year terms); county assembly of members (MCAs) elected from wards plus nominated members; county executive committee nominated by the governor and approved by the assembly. Health, agriculture, county roads, pre-primary education, water, trade licensing, planning (Fourth Schedule).

Every tier of government in Kenya

Other former provinces of Kenya

• Rift Valley (former province) 14,473,000
• Eastern (former province) 7,464,000
• Nyanza (former province) 6,992,000
• Western (former province) 5,560,000
• Coast (former province) 4,912,000
• Nairobi City 4,906,000
• North Eastern (former province) 2,893,000
• Kiambu 2,754,000
• Nakuru 2,445,000
• Kakamega 2,073,000
• Bungoma 1,845,000
• Meru 1,666,000
• Kilifi 1,637,000
• Machakos 1,518,000
• Kisii 1,370,000
• Mombasa 1,368,000
• Narok 1,355,000
• Kajiado 1,328,000
• Uasin Gishu 1,307,000
• Migori 1,292,000
• Kisumu 1,290,000
• Homa Bay 1,278,000
• Kitui 1,259,000
• Murang'a 1,136,000
• Trans Nzoia 1,108,000
• Siaya 1,097,000
• Turkana 1,074,000
• Makueni 1,065,000
• Mandera 1,007,000
• Busia 1,006,000
• Kwale 988,000
• Nandi 982,000
• Kericho 980,000
• Garissa 971,000
• Bomet 965,000
• Wajir 915,000
• Nyeri 853,000
• Baringo 764,000
• Nyandarua 721,000
• West Pokot 706,000
• Nyamira 665,000
• Kirinyaga 664,000
• Embu 662,000
• Vihiga 636,000
• Laikipia 583,000
• Marsabit 539,000
• Elgeyo-Marakwet 509,000
• Tharaka-Nithi 425,000
• Taita-Taveta 373,000
• Tana River 370,000
• Samburu 367,000
• Isiolo 330,000
• Lamu 176,000

Up a level: Kenya · government and power in Kenya · cities

Sources

• Commission on Revenue Allocation: Recommendation on the Basis for Equitable Sharing of Revenue between the National and County Governments for FY 2026/27, Tables 6.1 and 6.2, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 38189f669f70…)
• Commission on Revenue Allocation: Recommendation concerning the Fourth Basis for Revenue Sharing among County Governments, FY 2025/26-2029/30: Table 2-7 and Appendix I (KNBS census, poverty and Gross County Product data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 76961d1ebf71…)
• 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: 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey Basic Report: Tables 3.6, 5.10 and 5.18 by county, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 52fcb74800ea…)
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition): 2019 Census Data and Projections by County (2019 census count and projections for 2020-2045), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fc7c1a52a02c…)
• 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…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.