Poverty and living standards in Meru, Kenya: official figures
34.1% of people in Meru lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 562,000 people; 11th lowest 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 Meru cannot afford enough food?
21.1% of Meru's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 5.4% 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 Meru live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 35.7% of children under 18 in Meru lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Meru?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 31.6 in Meru in 2022, against 31.7 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Meru go hungry?
39.1% of households in Meru said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 16th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 15.3% 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 Meru have clean water and toilets?
73.7% of people in Meru had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 11th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 35.9% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Meru cook with?
9.6% of people in Meru lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, joint 21st highest 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 Meru compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Meru ranks 37 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Tharaka-Nithi | 36.1% |
| 35 | Lamu | 35.6% |
| 36 | Nyandarua | 34.5% |
| 37 | Meru | 34.1% |
| 38 | Kisii | 32.9% |
| 39 | Murang'a | 30.1% |
| 40 | Homa Bay | 28.2% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Meru ranks 11 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Vihiga | 75.2% |
| 9 | Kakamega | 74.4% |
| 10 | Kajiado | 73.8% |
| 11 | Meru | 73.7% |
| 12 | Bomet | 73.5% |
| 13 | Embu | 73.0% |
| 14 | Nakuru | 72.6% |
More on Meru: 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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