In 1930, the average woman of childbearing age in Kenya would have had just under seven children over the course of their reproductive years. This rate would steadily increase until the end of the 1960s, peaking at just over eight children per woman in 1970. Following this peak, a combination of strong national and international promotion of family planning in Kenya and an expansion of contraceptive use would lead to a sharp decrease in the fertility rate, resulting in an average of 3.19 children in 2024. Teenage fertility in Kenya In 2022, most teenage pregnancies occurred among 19-year-olds. There is a strong correlation between adolescents who had ever been pregnant and those who had no education. Additionally, those who form part of the highest wealth quintile in the country were less likely to have ever been pregnant. Overall decreasing trends in Kenya’s fertility ratesAlthough fertility rates in Kenya have dropped considerably since 1989, the global fertility rate is significantly lower. Kenyans living in rural areas have a higher total fertility rate compared to those living in urban areas. This is reportedly due to differences in the level of education, the use of contraception, and the desire to live a quality life. Between 1995 and 2000, the decline in fertility rates in Kenya slowed somewhat, partly due to the government prioritizing and reallocating healthcare resources towards combatting the then-emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, resources for contraceptives and family planning commenced once more around 2003, and as a result, the total fertility rate began to fall steadily again.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in Kenya was reported at 3.208 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2022, over 1.22 million births were registered in Kenya, increasing from 1.20 million births in the previous year. The birth rate in Kenya grew exponentially from 2016, with a slight drop occurring in 2020.

Kenya KE: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 31.309 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.782 Ratio for 2015. Kenya KE: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 44.409 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.274 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 31.309 Ratio in 2016. Kenya KE: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Kenya recorded a crude birth rate of 27.9 births per 1,000 population in 2019. The estimated number of live births varied among Kenyan counties. Makueni recorded the lowest rate: 19.8 births per 1,000 population, against 49.4 births per 1,000 population in Mandera.

Kenya KE: Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data was reported at 14.500 NA in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.800 NA for 2049. Kenya KE: Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data is updated yearly, averaging 27.350 NA from Jun 1979 (Median) to 2050, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.100 NA in 1979 and a record low of 14.500 NA in 2050. Kenya KE: Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Kenya: The number of births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from is births per 1000 people, unavailable from births per 1000 people in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 births per 1000 people, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Kenya from to is births per 1000 people. The minimum value, births per 1000 people, was reached in while the maximum of births per 1000 people was recorded in .

Kenya KE: Adolescent Fertility Rate: Births per 1000 Women Aged 15-19 data was reported at 81.792 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 83.094 Ratio for 2015. Kenya KE: Adolescent Fertility Rate: Births per 1000 Women Aged 15-19 data is updated yearly, averaging 141.259 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 183.286 Ratio in 1967 and a record low of 81.792 Ratio in 2016. Kenya KE: Adolescent Fertility Rate: Births per 1000 Women Aged 15-19 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Adolescent fertility rate is the number of births per 1,000 women ages 15-19.; ; United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects.; Weighted average;

Kenya KE: Wanted Fertility Rate: Births per Woman data was reported at 3.000 Ratio in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.400 Ratio for 2009. Kenya KE: Wanted Fertility Rate: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 3.450 Ratio from Dec 1989 (Median) to 2014, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.500 Ratio in 1989 and a record low of 3.000 Ratio in 2014. Kenya KE: Wanted Fertility Rate: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Wanted fertility rate is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided.; ; Demographic and Health Surveys.; Weighted average;

This dataset is about countries per year in Kenya. It has 64 rows. It features 3 columns: country, and birth rate.

Kenya KE: Fertility Rate: per Woman data was reported at 2.000 NA in 2050. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.000 NA for 2049. Kenya KE: Fertility Rate: per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 3.425 NA from Jun 1979 (Median) to 2050, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.800 NA in 1979 and a record low of 2.000 NA in 2050. Kenya KE: Fertility Rate: per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Kenya KE: Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data was reported at 1.030 Ratio in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.030 Ratio for 2016. Kenya KE: Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data is updated yearly, averaging 1.030 Ratio from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.030 Ratio in 2017 and a record low of 1.030 Ratio in 2017. Kenya KE: Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Sex ratio at birth refers to male births per female births. The data are 5 year averages.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) in Kenya was reported at 1.022 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration data was reported at 66.900 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 60.000 % for 2009. Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration data is updated yearly, averaging 60.000 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.900 % in 2014 and a record low of 48.000 % in 2003. Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Completeness of birth registration is the percentage of children under age 5 whose births were registered at the time of the survey. The numerator of completeness of birth registration includes children whose birth certificate was seen by the interviewer or whose mother or caretaker says the birth has been registered.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children based mostly on household surveys and ministry of health data.; Weighted average;

Kenya KE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 53.200 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 55.100 Ratio for 2015. Kenya KE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 66.600 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 106.400 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 53.200 Ratio in 2016. Kenya KE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Abstract

The 1998 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 7,881 wo 881 women age 15-49 and 3,407 men age 15-54. The KDHS was implemented by the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), with significant technical and logistical support provided by the Ministry of Health and various other governmental and nongovernmental organizations in Kenya. Macro International Inc. of Calverton, Maryland (U.S.A.) provided technical assistance throughout the course of the project in the context of the worldwide Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) programme, while financial assistance was provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Nairobi) and the Department for International Development (DFID/U.K.). Data collection for the KDHS was conducted from February to July 1998. Like the previous KDHS surveys conducted in 1989 and 1993, the 1998 KDHS was designed to provide information on levels and trends in fertility, family planning knowledge and use, infant and child mortality, and other maternal and child health indicators. However, the 1998 KDHS went further to collect more in-depth data on knowledge and behaviours related to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), detailed “calendar” data that allows estimation of contraceptive discontinuation rates, and information related to the practice of female circumcision. Further, unlike earlier surveys, the 1998 KDHS provides a national estimate of the level of maternal mortality (i.e. related to pregnancy and childbearing).The KDHS data are intended for use by programme managers and policymakers to evaluate and improve health and family planning programmes in Kenya. Fertility. The survey results demonstrate a continuation of the fertility transition in Kenya. At current fertility levels, a Kenyan women will bear 4.7 children in her life, down 30 percent from the 1989 KDHS when the total fertility rate (TFR) was 6.7 children, and 42 percent since the 1977/78 Kenya Fertility Survey (KFS) when the TFR was 8.1 children per woman. A rural woman can expect to have 5.2 children, around two children more than an urban women (3.1 children). Fertility differentials by women's education level are even more remarkable; women with no education will bear an average of 5.8 children, compared to 3.5 children for women with secondary school education. Marriage. The age at which women and men first marry has risen slowly over the past 20 years. Currently, women marry for the first time at an average age of 20 years, compared with 25 years for men. Women with a secondary education marry five years later (22) than women with no education (17).The KDHS data indicate that the practice of polygyny continues to decline in Kenya. Sixteen percent of currently married women are in a polygynous union (i.e., their husband has at least one other wife), compared with 19 percent of women in the 1993 KDHS, 23 percent in the 1989 KDHS, and 30 percent in the 1977/78 KFS. While men first marry an average of 5 years later than women, men become sexual active about onehalf of a year earlier than women; in the youngest age cohort for which estimates are available (age 20-24), first sex occurs at age 16.8 for women and 16.2 for men. Fertility Preferences. Fifty-three percent of women and 46 percent of men in Kenya do not want to have any more children. Another 25 percent of women and 27 percent of men would like to delay their next child for two years or longer. Thus, about three-quarters of women and men either want to limit or to space their births. The survey results show that, of all births in the last three years, 1 in 10 was unwanted and 1 in 3 was mistimed. If all unwanted births were avoided, the fertility rate in Kenya would fall from 4.7 to 3.5 children per woman. Family Planning. Knowledge and use of family planning in Kenya has continued to rise over the last several years. The 1998 KDHS shows that virtually all married women (98 percent) and men (99 percent) were able to cite at least one modern method of contraception. The pill, condoms, injectables, and female sterlisation are the most widely known methods. Overall, 39 percent of currently married women are using a method of contraception. Use of modern methods has increased from 27 in the 1993 KDHS to 32 percent in the 1998 KDHS. Currently, the most widely used methods are contraceptive injectables (12 percent of married women), the pill (9 percent), female sterilisation (6 percent), and periodic abstinence (6 percent). Three percent of married women are using the IUD, while over 1 percent report using the condom and 1 percent use of contraceptive implants (Norplant). The rapid increase in use of injectables (from 7 to 12 percent between 1993 and 1998) to become the predominant method, plus small rises in the use of implants, condoms and female sterilisation have more than offset small decreases in pill and IUD use. Thus, both new acceptance of contraception and method switching have characterised the 1993-1998 intersurvey period. Contraceptive use varies widely among geographic and socioeconomic subgroups. More than half of currently married women in Central Province (61 percent) and Nairobi Province (56 percent) are currently using a method, compared with 28 percent in Nyanza Province and 22 percent in Coast Province. Just 23 percent of women with no education use contraception versus 57 percent of women with at least some secondary education. Government facilities provide contraceptives to 58 percent of users, while 33 percent are supplied by private medical sources, 5 percent through other private sources, and 3 percent through community-based distribution (CBD) agents. This represents a significant shift in sourcing away from public outlets, a decline from 68 percent estimated in the 1993 KDHS. While the government continues to provide about two-thirds of IUD insertions and female sterilisations, the percentage of pills and injectables supplied out of government facilities has dropped from over 70 percent in 1993 to 53 percent for pills and 64 percent for injectables in 1998. Supply of condoms through public sector facilities has also declined: from 37 to 21 percent between 1993 and 1998. The survey results indicate that 24 percent of married women have an unmet need for family planning (either for spacing or limiting births). This group comprises married women who are not using a method of family planning but either want to wait two year or more for their next birth (14 percent) or do not want any more children (10 percent). While encouraging that unmet need at the national level has declined (from 34 to 24 percent) since 1993, there are parts of the country where the need for contraception remains high. For example, the level of unmet need is higher in Western Province (32 percent) and Coast Province (30 province) than elsewhere in Kenya. Early Childhood Mortality. One of the main objectives of the KDHS was to document current levels and trends in mortality among children under age 5. Results from the 1998 KDHS data make clear that childhood mortality conditions have worsened in the early-mid 1990s; this after a period of steadily improving child survival prospects through the mid-to-late 1980s. Under-five mortality, the probability of dying before the fifth birthday, stands at 112 deaths per 1000 live births which represents a 24 percent increase over the last decade. Survival chances during age 1-4 years suffered disproportionately: rising 38 percent over the same period. Survey results show that childhood mortality is especially high when associated with two factors: a short preceding birth interval and a low level of maternal education. The risk of dying in the first year of life is more than doubled when the child is born after an interval of less than 24 months. Children of women with no education experience an under-five mortality rate that is two times higher than children of women who attended secondary school or higher. Provincial differentials in childhood mortality are striking; under-five mortality ranges from a low of 34 deaths per 1000 live births in Central Province to a high of 199 per 1000 in Nyanza Province. Maternal Health. Utilisation of antenatal services is high in Kenya; in the three years before the survey, mothers received antenatal care for 92 percent of births (Note: These data do not speak to the quality of those antenatal services). The median number of antenatal visits per pregnancy was 3.7. Most antenatal care is provided by nurses and trained midwives (64 percent), but the percentage provided by doctors (28 percent) has risen in recent years. Still, over one-third of women who do receive care, start during the third trimester of pregnancy-too late to receive the optimum benefits of antenatal care. Mothers reported receiving at least one tetanus toxoid injection during pregnancy for 90 percent of births in the three years before the survey. Tetanus toxoid is a powerful weapon in the fight against neonatal tetanus, a deadly disease that attacks young infants. Forty-two percent of births take place in health facilities; however, this figure varies from around three-quarters of births in Nairobi to around one-quarter of births in Western Province. It is important for the health of both the mother and child that trained medical personnel are available in cases of prolonged labour or obstructed delivery, which are major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. The 1998 KDHS collected information that allows estimation of mortality related to pregnancy and childbearing. For the 10-year period before the survey, the maternal mortality ratio was estimated to be 590 deaths per 100,000 live births. Bearing on average 4.7 children, a Kenyan woman has a 1 in 36 chance of dying from maternal causes during her lifetime. Childhood Immunisation. The KDHS

Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration: Female data was reported at 66.400 % in 2014. Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 66.400 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2014, with 1 observations. Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Completeness of birth registration is the percentage of children under age 5 whose births were registered at the time of the survey. The numerator of completeness of birth registration includes children whose birth certificate was seen by the interviewer or whose mother or caretaker says the birth has been registered.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children based mostly on household surveys and ministry of health data.; ;

Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration: Rural data was reported at 61.000 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 56.700 % for 2009. Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 56.700 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.000 % in 2014 and a record low of 44.000 % in 2003. Kenya KE: Completeness of Birth Registration: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Completeness of birth registration is the percentage of children under age 5 whose births were registered at the time of the survey. The numerator of completeness of birth registration includes children whose birth certificate was seen by the interviewer or whose mother or caretaker says the birth has been registered.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children based mostly on household surveys and ministry of health data.; ;

Kenya KE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 41.500 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 44.500 Ratio for 2015. Kenya KE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 53.900 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.400 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 41.500 Ratio in 2017. Kenya KE: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, female is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn female baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to female age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

UNICEF's country profile for Kenya, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.