Kenya's under-five mortality falls to 37 per 1,000 live births in new national survey

Kenya's under-five mortality rate has fallen to 37 deaths per 1,000 live births, from 41 in 2022, according to the 2025–26 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey, launched in Nairobi on 3 November 2026.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) carried out the survey with the Ministry of Health. Data were collected from 5 November 2025 to 10 February 2026 from a nationally representative sample of 29,935 households. It is the first "mini" survey in the series, an interim update between full rounds. The seven full surveys were held in 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008–09, 2014 and 2022.

The under-five rate was 115 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003. The infant mortality rate is now 30 per 1,000 live births and the neonatal rate 19. The five-year under-five rate is 45 for boys and 30 for girls.

On care around birth, 91% of births took place in a health facility in 2025, up from 88% in 2022, and 92% were assisted by a skilled provider, up from 89%. Some 72% of women had at least four antenatal visits during their most recent pregnancy, up from 66% in 2022. Within the first two days after birth, 84% of mothers and 86% of newborns received a postnatal check.

The maternal mortality ratio is 263 deaths per 100,000 live births over the seven years before the survey.

The total fertility rate fell from 3.4 children per woman in 2022 to 3.1. The median interval between births widened from 42.1 to 46.3 months. The share of women aged 15–19 who have ever been pregnant dropped from 14.8% to 11.9%.

The teenage pregnancy rate is 13% in rural areas and 11% in urban areas. It is roughly three times higher among women in the lowest wealth quintile than in the highest: 15% against 5%. West Pokot (25%), Migori (23%) and Kajiado (20%) have the highest rates. Isiolo (3%), Makueni (4%), Garissa (5%) and Murang'a (5%) have the lowest.

Total demand for family planning among currently married women stands at 76%, of which 61% is met through modern or other contraceptive methods. Eight in ten children aged 12–23 months were fully vaccinated with all basic antigens. Of children under six months, 72% were exclusively breastfed, and 68% of those aged 6–59 months had received vitamin A supplements in the previous six months.

The report also records changes in household services since the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). Electricity reaches 70% of households, up from 58%. Access to an improved source of drinking water rose to 85% from 80%, and to an improved sanitation facility to 76% from 72%. Some 40% of the household population has some form of health insurance, most of it through the Social Health Authority.

For the first time, Kenya's national demographic and health survey has measured how children are developing from as young as 3 months, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on the launch. It used WHO's Global Scales for Early Development for children aged 3–23 months and the UNICEF Early Childhood Development Index 2030 for those aged 24–59 months. Some 85% of children aged 3–23 months and 83% of those aged 24–59 months are developmentally on track. Among children aged 3–23 months the share ranges from 52% in West Pokot to 97% in Kakamega, and children of better-educated mothers are more likely to be on track.

The interviews covered 998 of the 1,000 selected clusters. One cluster in Garissa County was not visited because of insecurity, and one in Nairobi City County was excluded after residents refused. Of 27,612 occupied households, 26,380 were interviewed, a response rate of 96%. Of 22,507 eligible women aged 15–49, 21,231 were interviewed, a rate of 94%.

Aga Khan University, Kenya, was the principal financing partner. Other funders were the Government of Kenya, the Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and WHO, with technical assistance from ICF through the DHS Program.

Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services, launched the report. "We want to change the lives of the mothers, the children, the people who we read here as numbers," he said, as quoted by WHO.

Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Representative to Kenya, spoke on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr Garry Conille. "Behind every indicator is a person, a mother seeking safe care, a child whose development depends on adequate nutrition support, an adolescent seeking information and services, and a woman facing violence," she said, as quoted by WHO.

Prof. Amina Abubakar of the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development spoke about the county figures. "Counties can see where their children are falling behind so that they can target nurturing care, early stimulation, and parenting support where it's needed most," she said, as quoted by WHO.