Poverty and living standards in Kilifi, Kenya: official figures
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.
How many people in Kilifi cannot afford enough food?
46.3% of Kilifi's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 10.4% 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 Kilifi live in poverty?
Child poverty is lower: 51.6% of children under 18 in Kilifi lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Kilifi?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 35.4 in Kilifi in 2022, against 39.6 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Kilifi go hungry?
26.0% of households in Kilifi said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 21st lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 13.1% 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 Kilifi have clean water and toilets?
66.2% of people in Kilifi had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 23rd highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 29.3% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%), and 21.0% had no toilet at all.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Kilifi cook with?
8.6% of people in Kilifi lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 23rd 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 Kilifi compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Kilifi ranks 11 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | West Pokot | 60.1% |
| 9 | Kitui | 58.3% |
| 10 | Isiolo | 55.6% |
| 11 | Kilifi | 53.0% |
| 12 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 53.0% |
| 13 | Busia | 52.7% |
| 14 | Kwale | 51.1% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Kilifi ranks 23 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Laikipia | 69.7% |
| 21 | Taita-Taveta | 68.3% |
| 22 | Machakos | 68.1% |
| 23 | Kilifi | 66.2% |
| 24 | Lamu | 65.9% |
| 25 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 64.2% |
| 26 | Kericho | 62.5% |
More on Kilifi: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.