People using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya
Kenya: People using at least basic drinking water services was 65.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2024, people using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya stood at 65.6%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya peaked at 65.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 45.4%, in 2000.
That places Kenya 197th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.4% | — |
| 2001 | 46.2% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 47.1% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 48.0% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 48.8% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 49.7% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 50.5% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 51.4% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 52.3% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 53.1% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 53.9% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 54.8% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 55.6% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 56.5% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 57.3% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 58.2% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 59.0% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 59.8% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 60.7% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 61.5% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 62.3% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 63.1% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 64.0% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 64.8% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 65.6% | +1.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 65.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 85.4%, 77% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 65.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.2%, 91% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.2% | 45.4% | 53.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.7% | 53.9% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.0% | 62.3% | 65.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya?
- People using at least basic drinking water services in Kenya was 65.6% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest people using at least basic drinking water services recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic drinking water services recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.4% in 2000.
- How does Kenya rank for people using at least basic drinking water services?
- Kenya ranks 197th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic drinking water services rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic drinking water services (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people using at least basic water services. This indicator encompasses both people using basic water services as well as those using safely managed water services. Basic drinking water services is defined as drinking water from an improved source, provided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a round trip. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water.