Prevalence of anemia among children in Kenya
Kenya: Prevalence of anemia among children was 42.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among children in Kenya, 2000–2019
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 42.8% for prevalence of anemia among children in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in Kenya peaked at 56.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 39.3%, in 2012.
Kenya ranks 57th of 190 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among children in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 6-59 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 56.7% | — |
| 2001 | 54.6% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 52.5% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 50.6% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 48.8% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 46.9% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 45.3% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 43.7% | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 42.0% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 40.7% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 39.9% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 39.4% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 39.3% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 39.3% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 39.7% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 40.1% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 40.6% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 41.4% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 42.0% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 42.8% | +1.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 42.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.9%, 89% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 42.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.4%, 73% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48.2% | 40.7% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.5% | 39.3% | 42.8% | 10 |
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 prevalence of anemia among children in Kenya?
- Prevalence of anemia among children in Kenya was 42.8% in 2019, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 56.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.3% in 2012.
- How does Kenya rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
- Kenya ranks 57th out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, children ages 6-59 months, is the percentage of children ages 6-59 months whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter, adjusted for altitude.