Poverty and living standards in Vihiga, Kenya: official figures
47.9% of people in Vihiga lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 302,000 people; 16th 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 Vihiga cannot afford enough food?
41.3% of Vihiga's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 9.5% 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 Vihiga live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 49.1% of children under 18 in Vihiga lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Vihiga?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 32.2 in Vihiga in 2022, against 27.9 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Vihiga go hungry?
59.0% of households in Vihiga said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 2nd highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 18.3% 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 Vihiga have clean water and toilets?
75.2% of people in Vihiga had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 8th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 60.9% 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 Vihiga cook with?
6.6% of people in Vihiga lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, joint 14th 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 Vihiga compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Vihiga ranks 16 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Busia | 52.7% |
| 14 | Kwale | 51.1% |
| 15 | Bungoma | 49.2% |
| 16 | Vihiga | 47.9% |
| 17 | Kericho | 47.8% |
| 18 | Bomet | 47.1% |
| 19 | Baringo | 46.9% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Vihiga ranks 8 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Murang'a | 80.6% |
| 6 | Uasin Gishu | 79.0% |
| 7 | Kirinyaga | 76.2% |
| 8 | Vihiga | 75.2% |
| 9 | Kakamega | 74.4% |
| 10 | Kajiado | 73.8% |
| 11 | Meru | 73.7% |
More on Vihiga: 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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