Tana River: population, poverty, health, schooling, housing and county revenue
Tana River is a county of Kenya, number 51 of 54 by population. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics projects Tana River's population at 370,000 for 2025, 0.7% of Kenya's 53.33 million; 4th smallest of Kenya's 47 counties. The projection starts from the 2019 census, which counted 315,943 people in the county.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Tana River: Tana River's economy (Gross County Product) was worth KSh 35.2 billion in 2022 at current prices, 0.3% of the 47 counties' combined KSh 12.29 trillion, or about KSh 102,200 per resident; 6th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties per person (all counties: KSh 242,700).
- Health in Tana River: 5.3% of people in Tana River had any health insurance in 2022, the lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 26.3%); most of them 5.3% through the National Health Insurance Fund, which has since been replaced by the Social Health Authority.
- Education in Tana River: 57.1% of primary-school-age children in Tana River were attending primary school in 2022 (the net attendance ratio), 4th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 86.2%).
- Poverty and living standards in Tana River: 66.7% of people in Tana River lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 225,000 people; 5th 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 Tana River: The Commission on Revenue Allocation recommended KSh 8.0 billion of shareable national revenue for the Tana River County Government in 2026/27, 1.74% of the KSh 458.9 billion recommended for all counties; 16th smallest of Kenya's 47 counties. Parliament sets the final figure in the County Allocation of Revenue Act.
How fast is Tana River's population growing?
That is growth of about 2.7% a year since the 2019 census (Kenya: 1.9% a year). KNBS expects 420,000 people in Tana River by 2030 and 591,000 by 2045.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (National Information Platform for Food Security and Nutrition) · saved copyHow big is Tana River County?
Tana River covers 37,951 square kilometres (6.5% of Kenya), so it has about 10 people per square kilometre in 2025; 2nd least densely populated of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 92).
Source: Commission on Revenue Allocation · saved copyHow many children do women in Tana River have?
Women in Tana River have 5.7 children each on average at current rates (Kenya DHS 2022; Kenya: 3.4), 7th highest of Kenya's 47 counties.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyAre births registered in Tana River?
57.8% of children under five in Tana River had their birth registered in 2022, 7th 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
- Kwale 988,000
- 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
- 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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