Kwale: population, poverty, health, schooling, housing and county revenue
Kwale is a county of Kenya, number 32 of 54 by population. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics projects Kwale's population at 988,000 for 2025, 1.9% of Kenya's 53.33 million; 23rd smallest of Kenya's 47 counties. The projection starts from the 2019 census, which counted 866,820 people in the county.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kwale: Kwale's economy (Gross County Product) was worth KSh 151.4 billion in 2022 at current prices, 1.2% of the 47 counties' combined KSh 12.29 trillion, or about KSh 164,000 per resident; 21st lowest of Kenya's 47 counties per person (all counties: KSh 242,700).
- Health in Kwale: 11.3% of people in Kwale had any health insurance in 2022, 7th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 26.3%); most of them 10.0% through the National Health Insurance Fund, which has since been replaced by the Social Health Authority.
- Education in Kwale: 78.9% of primary-school-age children in Kwale were attending primary school in 2022 (the net attendance ratio), 10th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 86.2%).
- Poverty and living standards in Kwale: 51.1% of people in Kwale lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 471,000 people; 14th 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 Kwale: The Commission on Revenue Allocation recommended KSh 9.9 billion of shareable national revenue for the Kwale County Government in 2026/27, 2.17% of the KSh 458.9 billion recommended for all counties; 16th largest of Kenya's 47 counties. Parliament sets the final figure in the County Allocation of Revenue Act.
How fast is Kwale's population growing?
That is growth of about 2.2% a year since the 2019 census (Kenya: 1.9% a year). KNBS expects 1,112,000 people in Kwale by 2030 and 1,525,000 by 2045.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition) · saved copyHow big is Kwale County?
Kwale covers 8,267 square kilometres (1.4% of Kenya), so it has about 120 people per square kilometre in 2025; 17th least densely populated of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 92).
Source: Commission on Revenue Allocation · saved copyHow many children do women in Kwale have?
Women in Kwale have 4.2 children each on average at current rates (Kenya DHS 2022; Kenya: 3.4), 14th highest of Kenya's 47 counties.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyAre births registered in Kwale?
75.1% of children under five in Kwale had their birth registered in 2022, 23rd lowest 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
- 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
- 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
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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…)
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