Kenya’s fertility rate per woman records a worrying drop, KNBS survey shows
Kenya’s fertility rate has declined to 3.1 children per woman, down from 3.4 in 2022, according to the 2025–26 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The findings point to changes in family size, teenage pregnancies and access to maternal healthcare, alongside improvements in child survival and […]
Nairobi, Kenya – The fertility rate among Kenyan women has decreased from four children per woman in 2022 to three, according to the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) survey. The decline reveals a trend of changing family sizes across the nation, with urban women experiencing a significantly lower fertility rate compared to their rural counterparts.
The 2025/2026 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey indicates that the fertility rate in urban areas is 2.6 children per woman, while in rural areas it is 3.6 children per woman. This data underscores the ongoing disparities in reproductive patterns between urban and rural populations, with location acting as a key determinant in family sizes.
The survey, which covered all 47 counties, aims to furnish updated population and health indicators to aid national and county-level planning. KNBS Acting Director General Benjamin Avusevwa explained that the Mini DHS serves as a link between the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey and the upcoming full DHS. The updated findings equip policymakers with essential knowledge about population trends, reproductive health, and development priorities, enabling them to shape interventions in healthcare, education, and other social sectors.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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