Kenya lagging in eliminating poverty with over 14 million people living in extreme poverty

According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025, 800 million people still live in extreme poverty globally. 

The World Bank defines people living in poverty as those that have less than $2.15 (nearly Ksh.288) to live on in a day. 

As of today, data by the World Data Lab shows that 14,043,800  people in Kenya live in extreme poverty. This makes up 26% of the Kenyan population; a total of 54,488,646. 

The data further shows that the extreme poverty is prevalent in rural areas (86%) and is affecting 51% of females and 49% of males. 

In the 2025 SDG Index, Kenya was found to have recorded a downward trend in eliminating poverty by 2030. While the country in 2025 registered an improvement in achieving Zero Hunger, a worrying prevalence of undernourishment was also recorded. 

The report stipulates that if efforts to eliminate extreme poverty are not increased, 8.9 per cent of the global population will still be living in extreme poverty by 2030. 

While these significant challenges remain, Kenya was ranked at number 123 out of 193 countries, standing out from other East African countries and a 61.93 score. Rwanda was ranked at number 122. 

This means that 713 million people had less than $2.15 a day to live on.

The World Bank classifies Kenya under lower-middle income countries, which are among those faced with record-high debt servicing costs.

“With just five years to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to shift into overdrive,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said on the release of the SDG report. 

The SDG index further shows that major challenges remain for Kenya to achieve Zero hunger and Good Health and Well-being. 

On the other hand, Kenya has recorded significant improvement in providing quality education, and increased access to electricity. 

The country remains on track in ensuring responsible consumption and production, and also climate action initiatives where there are significant efforts to reduce Carbon emissions. 

In 2024, the SDG Index also highlighted the significant steps Kenya has made towards climate action and responsible consumption and production.

Then, the report found that Kenya failed in the development of sustainable cities and communities.

It also highlighted that the East African nation also continues to suffer from a lack of peace, justice and strong institutions, where homicide cases continue to be recorded, a high Corruption Perceptions Index and an increased threat to press freedom.