Poverty and living standards in Nakuru, Kenya: official figures
38.2% of people in Nakuru lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 872,000 people; joint 18th 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 Nakuru cannot afford enough food?
26.5% of Nakuru's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 3.7% 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 Nakuru live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 42.1% of children under 18 in Nakuru lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Nakuru?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 36.2 in Nakuru in 2022, against 36.2 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Nakuru go hungry?
30.9% of households in Nakuru said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 22nd highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 8.5% 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 Nakuru have clean water and toilets?
72.6% of people in Nakuru had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 14th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 43.3% 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 Nakuru cook with?
28.2% of people in Nakuru lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 8th 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 Nakuru compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Nakuru ranks 29 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Nyamira | 38.8% |
| 27 | Machakos | 38.3% |
| 28 | Siaya | 38.3% |
| 29 | Nakuru | 38.2% |
| 30 | Kakamega | 38.2% |
| 31 | Laikipia | 38.0% |
| 32 | Trans Nzoia | 37.3% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Nakuru ranks 14 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Meru | 73.7% |
| 12 | Bomet | 73.5% |
| 13 | Embu | 73.0% |
| 14 | Nakuru | 72.6% |
| 15 | Trans Nzoia | 72.2% |
| 16 | Isiolo | 72.1% |
| 17 | Kisumu | 71.5% |
More on Nakuru: 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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