According to the Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2025/2026, conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya's fertility rate has declined over the last two decades. The average number of births per woman in Kenya was 3.1 in 2025, a drop from 3.4 in 2022. This decline has been observed since 2003. The survey also found that women in rural areas were likely to give birth to more children (3.6) compared to their counterparts in urban areas, who recorded 2.6 births per woman.
The KNBS survey revealed that women in Mandera County had the highest number of births (6.8), followed by Wajir County (5.8) and Tana River (5.7). Other counties with above-average births per woman included Turkana (5.6) and Garissa (5.3). On the other hand, Embu County recorded the lowest fertility rate, with women having an average of 2.2 births each, followed by Kiambu County, which recorded an average of 2.3 births per woman.
Other counties with below-average births per woman included Mombasa (2.3), Nairobi and Kericho (2.6), and Kirinyaga and Tharaka Nithi counties, which recorded 2.7 births per woman. The fertility rate was based on pregnancy histories from women aged 15–49. The survey found that 89% of pregnancy outcomes in the 3 years before the survey resulted in live births, 9% in miscarriages, 1% in stillbirths, and less than 1% in induced abortions.
According to KNBS, the number of children a woman bears depends on factors such as age, birth intervals, and her fecundity. The survey noted that postponing first births and extending the interval between births have played a role in reducing fertility levels in many countries. As the fertility rate in Kenya declines, so are teenage pregnancies, with adolescent births falling from 73 to 63 per 1,000 girls.
However, teenage pregnancies remained high in some counties, including West Pokot (25%), Migori (23%), and Kajiado (20%). On the other hand, Nyeri, Isiolo, and Makueni recorded the lowest teenage pregnancies at 2%, 3.4%, and 3.7%, respectively. The survey also found an increase in hospital births over the 5-year period before the survey, with child mortality rates dropping in the last two decades.
The decline in fertility rates and teenage pregnancies is a positive trend for Kenya's healthcare system. The KNBS survey provides valuable insights into the country's demographic changes, which can inform policy decisions and healthcare interventions. The survey's findings on fertility rates, teenage pregnancies, and child mortality rates can help policymakers and healthcare professionals develop targeted strategies to improve maternal and child health.
The Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2025/2026 is a critical tool for understanding the country's demographic trends. The survey's results can help identify areas where healthcare interventions are needed, and inform policy decisions aimed at improving maternal and child health. By analyzing the survey's findings, policymakers and healthcare professionals can work together to develop effective strategies to address the country's healthcare challenges.
Key points
- Kenya's fertility rate has declined to 3.1 births per woman, with Embu and Kiambu counties recording the lowest rates.
- The decline in fertility rates is accompanied by a decline in teenage pregnancies, with adolescent births falling from 73 to 63 per 1,000 girls.
- The survey found an increase in hospital births and a drop in child mortality rates over the last two decades.
