The 2025-26 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey (KMDHS) released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) on Tuesday shows that teenage pregnancies in Kenya have declined from 14.8% in 2022 to 11.9%. Despite this decline, girls from poorer households remain more affected than those from wealthier families. The survey indicates that the rate of teenage pregnancy is roughly three times higher among women in the lowest wealth quintile than among those in the highest wealth quintile.
The survey also reveals that teenage pregnancies are more common in rural areas, where 13% of girls aged 15-19 have ever been pregnant, compared with 11% in urban areas. Across the counties, West Pokot recorded the highest rate at 25%, followed by Migori at 23%, and Kajiado at 20%. On the other hand, the lowest rates were recorded in Isiolo at 3% and Makueni at 4%. Garissa and Murang'a recorded 5% each.
The KMDHS further shows that Kenya's fertility rate has declined to 3.1 children per woman, from 3.4 in 2022. The findings indicate that women are having fewer children on average, with births also being spaced further apart. However, access to and use of family planning methods remain areas of concern. Overall, 76% of currently married women have a demand for family planning, meaning they either use contraceptives or want to use them to delay or stop having children.
According to the survey, 16% of women want to delay or stop having children but are not using any contraceptive method. This highlights the need for improved access to family planning services, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas. The KNBS Acting Director General, Benjamin Avusevwa, noted that the mini survey was designed to provide updated indicators between the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey and the next full survey.
Avusevwa said the findings would support policy formulation and planning at both national and county levels. The survey was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026 and provides an interim update to guide national and county planning as the country prepares for the next full survey. The 2025-26 KMDHS is Kenya's first mini demographic and health survey and the eighth demographic and health survey exercise since 1989.
United Nations representative Dr. Neema Kimambo, speaking on behalf of the World Health Organisation (WHO), noted that the value of the survey lay in translating reliable data into decisions that improve people's lives. She added that investment in reliable data was essential in guiding resource allocation and assessing whether policies were achieving their intended purpose.
The decline in teenage pregnancies and fertility rates is a positive trend, but the persistence of a poverty gap highlights the need for targeted interventions to support disadvantaged communities. The government and stakeholders must work together to address the underlying factors contributing to these disparities and ensure that all girls have access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
Key points
- - Teenage pregnancies in Kenya have declined to 11.9% from 14.8% in 2022. - Girls from poorer households remain more affected than those from wealthier families. - Kenya's fertility rate has declined to 3.1 children per woman, from 3.4 in 2022.
