Poverty and living standards in Garissa, Kenya: official figures
67.8% of people in Garissa lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 607,000 people; 4th 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 Garissa cannot afford enough food?
51.2% of Garissa's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 21.1% 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 Garissa live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 71.4% of children under 18 in Garissa lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Garissa?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 32.8 in Garissa in 2022, against 35.7 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Garissa go hungry?
10.8% of households in Garissa said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 3rd lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 12.7% 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 Garissa have clean water and toilets?
70.8% of people in Garissa had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 18th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 36.5% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%), and 17.5% had no toilet at all.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Garissa cook with?
4.1% of people in Garissa lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 8th 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 Garissa compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Garissa ranks 4 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkana | 82.7% |
| 2 | Mandera | 72.9% |
| 3 | Samburu | 71.9% |
| 4 | Garissa | 67.8% |
| 5 | Tana River | 66.7% |
| 6 | Marsabit | 66.1% |
| 7 | Wajir | 64.7% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Garissa ranks 18 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Trans Nzoia | 72.2% |
| 16 | Isiolo | 72.1% |
| 17 | Kisumu | 71.5% |
| 18 | Garissa | 70.8% |
| 19 | Bungoma | 70.0% |
| 20 | Laikipia | 69.7% |
| 21 | Taita-Taveta | 68.3% |
More on Garissa: 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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