Poverty and living standards in Kwale, Kenya: official figures
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.
How many people in Kwale cannot afford enough food?
36.3% of Kwale's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 12.4% 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 Kwale live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 55.3% of children under 18 in Kwale lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Kwale?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 36.8 in Kwale in 2022, against 34.5 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Kwale go hungry?
46.6% of households in Kwale said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 8th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 17.7% 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 Kwale have clean water and toilets?
46.7% of people in Kwale had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 10th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 32.1% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%), and 26.4% had no toilet at all.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Kwale cook with?
7.4% of people in Kwale lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 19th 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 Kwale compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Kwale ranks 14 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Kilifi | 53.0% |
| 12 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 53.0% |
| 13 | Busia | 52.7% |
| 14 | Kwale | 51.1% |
| 15 | Bungoma | 49.2% |
| 16 | Vihiga | 47.9% |
| 17 | Kericho | 47.8% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Kwale ranks 38 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Tana River | 48.7% |
| 36 | Siaya | 48.5% |
| 37 | Narok | 48.2% |
| 38 | Kwale | 46.7% |
| 39 | Nandi | 46.2% |
| 40 | Makueni | 46.0% |
| 41 | Kisii | 44.4% |
More on Kwale: 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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