Kilifi: population, poverty, health, schooling, housing and county revenue
Kilifi is a county of Kenya, number 14 of 54 by population. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics projects Kilifi's population at 1,637,000 for 2025, 3.1% of Kenya's 53.33 million; 7th largest of Kenya's 47 counties. The projection starts from the 2019 census, which counted 1,453,787 people in the county.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kilifi: Kilifi's economy (Gross County Product) was worth KSh 254.8 billion in 2022 at current prices, 2.1% of the 47 counties' combined KSh 12.29 trillion, or about KSh 164,600 per resident; 22nd lowest of Kenya's 47 counties per person (all counties: KSh 242,700).
- Health in Kilifi: 11.8% of people in Kilifi had any health insurance in 2022, 9th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 26.3%); most of them 11.0% through the National Health Insurance Fund, which has since been replaced by the Social Health Authority.
- Education in Kilifi: 87.6% of primary-school-age children in Kilifi were attending primary school in 2022 (the net attendance ratio), 18th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 86.2%).
- Poverty and living standards in Kilifi: 53.0% of people in Kilifi lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 821,000 people; joint 11th 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.
- Government budget and revenue in Kilifi: The Commission on Revenue Allocation recommended KSh 14.0 billion of shareable national revenue for the Kilifi County Government in 2026/27, 3.06% of the KSh 458.9 billion recommended for all counties; 6th largest of Kenya's 47 counties. Parliament sets the final figure in the County Allocation of Revenue Act.
How fast is Kilifi's population growing?
That is growth of about 2.0% a year since the 2019 census (Kenya: 1.9% a year). KNBS expects 1,786,000 people in Kilifi by 2030 and 2,214,000 by 2045.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition) · saved copyHow big is Kilifi County?
Kilifi covers 12,540 square kilometres (2.2% of Kenya), so it has about 131 people per square kilometre in 2025; 19th least densely populated of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 92).
Source: Commission on Revenue Allocation · saved copyHow many children do women in Kilifi have?
Women in Kilifi have 3.4 children each on average at current rates (Kenya DHS 2022; Kenya: 3.4), joint 16th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyAre births registered in Kilifi?
81.3% of children under five in Kilifi had their birth registered in 2022, 16th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 76.0%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyHow countys 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 counties of Kenya
- Rift Valley (former province) 14,473,000
- Eastern (former province) 7,464,000
- Nyanza (former province) 6,992,000
- Central (former province) 6,128,000
- 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
- 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.