Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Kenya
Kenya: Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita was 17.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Kenya, 1987–2022
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 17.6% for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Kenya peaked at 41.1% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 17.6%, in 2022.
Kenya ranks 52nd of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 37.0% | — |
| 1993 | 40.2% | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 41.1% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 36.8% | -10.5% |
| 2000 | 40.8% | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 35.8% | -12.3% |
| 2005 | 40.3% | +12.6% |
| 2008 | 35.5% | -11.9% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | -25.9% |
| 2014 | 26.2% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 28.6% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | -38.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 17.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 78% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 17.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 62% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.0% | 37.0% | 37.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 39.4% | 36.8% | 41.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 38.1% | 35.5% | 40.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 26.2% | 28.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 17.6% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More economy & growth data for Kenya
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 417.66 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0035 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 7.4 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 463.44 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -8.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0038 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 8.21 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Kenya?
- Share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Kenya was 17.6% in 2022, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 41.1% in 1994.
- What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.6% in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita?
- Kenya ranks 52nd out of 97 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of children who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.