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Kenya

Eastern Africa

Updated today

Kenya's economy is growing, driven by increasing bank account ownership and mobile subscriptions, but the country still faces significant humanitarian and health challenges, including high poverty and undernourishment rates, and limited access to healthcare and education.

38/100
Need
Humanitarian pressure
34/100
Opportunity
Growth potential
55/100
Stability
Governance score
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AI Brief

KENUpdated today

Kenya's economy grows amidst persistent humanitarian challenges

Kenya's economy is growing, driven by increasing bank account ownership and mobile subscriptions, but the country still faces significant humanitarian and health challenges, including high poverty and undernourishment rates, and limited access to healthcare and education.

  • The country has made significant progress in increasing bank account ownership, with 90.12% of the population owning a bank account.
  • Kenya's GDP growth rate is 4.72%, driven by increasing mobile subscriptions and economic connectivity.
  • The country has a high level of conflict pressure, with 100,000 people displaced and a moderate level of conflict reported.
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Kenya has a unique geography, with the world's largest permanent desert lake, Lake Turkana, located in the north of the country.

High poverty and undernourishment rates, with 45.50% of the population living below $2.15/day and 36.80% experiencing undernourishment.
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Key Indicators

Bank Account Ownership
90.12%

% of adults with a bank or mobile money account. Africa average: ~55%.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
Agricultural Land
49.53% land

% of land used for crops or livestock. Africa average: ~43%.

World Bank (2023)Updated today
Conflict Pressure
Moderate
ACLED (2026)Updated today
Internet Access
42%
GSMA (2025)Updated today
Government Education Expenditure
4.02% GDP
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Electricity Access
19.2%

Share of population with access to electricity. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~47%.

UN SDG (2010)Updated today
Energy Use per Capita
539.3kg oil eq
World Bank (2024)Updated today
FDI Inflows
0.39% GDP
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Female Labour Force Participation
47.39%

Share of women ages 15+ who are employed or seeking work. Global average: ~47%.

World Bank (2025)Updated today
Forest Area
6.22% land

% of land covered by forest. Africa average: ~22%.

World Bank (2023)Updated today
GDP Growth
4.72%

Annual % change in national economic output. Global average: ~3%.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
GDP per Capita
2 132.43USD

GDP per person in current USD. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~$1,700.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
Gini Index
38.5

Income inequality index 0–100. Higher = more unequal. Africa average: ~43.

World Bank (2022)Updated today
Under-5 Mortality
38per 1k
WHO GHO (2024)Data aging
Current Health Expenditure
4.35% GDP

Government + private health spending as % of GDP. Global average: ~10%.

World Bank (2023)Updated today
Internally Displaced Persons
100 000people

People displaced within their own country. Africa hosts the most IDPs globally. Source: UNHCR.

UNHCR (2024)Updated today
Inflation (CPI)
4.49%
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Internet Access
34.98%

Share of population using the internet. Africa average: ~43%.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
Life Expectancy
69.22years

Average years a newborn is expected to live. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~62 years.

WHO GHO (2021)Updated today
Marine Protected Areas
0.7% waters
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Maternal Mortality
378.8per 100k

Deaths per 100,000 live births. Global average: 223; sub-Saharan Africa: ~450.

WHO GHO (2023)Updated today
4G Mobile Network Coverage
89%
UN SDG (2010)Updated today
Mobile Subscriptions
126.48per 100

SIM cards per 100 people (can exceed 100 due to multiple SIMs). Africa average: ~85.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
Under-5 Mortality
38.8per 1k

Deaths per 1,000 live births before age 5. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~65.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
NCD Premature Mortality (30–70)
18%
WHO GHO (2021)Updated today
Obesity Prevalence
11.28%
WHO GHO (2024)Updated today
Medical Doctors
2.6per 10k

Medical doctors per 10,000 people. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~2.2.

WHO GHO (2024)Updated today
Political Stability Index
-0.94/100

World Governance Indicators score 0–100. Higher = more stable. Normalized from -2.5/+2.5 scale.

World Bank WGI (2023)Updated today
Population
56 432 944
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Poverty Headcount ($2.15/day)
45.5%

Share of population living on less than $2.15/day. Global extreme poverty threshold.

World Bank (2022)Updated today
Protected Areas
11.8% total
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Renewable Electricity Output
78.08%

% of electricity from renewable sources (hydro, solar, wind, geothermal).

World Bank (2021)Updated today
Safe Sanitation Access
35.83%

Share using safely managed sanitation. Global average: ~57%.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
Population in Slums
40.5% urban
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Stunting, Children Under 5
17.6%
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Undernourishment Prevalence
36.8%

Share of population with insufficient food intake. Africa average: ~20%.

World Bank (2023)Updated today
Unemployment Rate
5.45%
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Urban Population Share
31.89%

Share of population living in urban areas. Africa average: ~44%.

World Bank (2024)Updated today
Women in Parliament
23.39%

Share of parliamentary seats held by women. Global average: ~27%.

World Bank (2025)Updated today

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