Kenya Launches 2025 Population Situation Analysis Report

Kenya has recorded notable progress in fertility trends, family planning uptake, and population data systems, even as rising unemployment, skills mismatch, and population pressure continue to pose significant development challenges.
These insights emerged during the launch and national dissemination of the Population Situation Analysis (PSA) 2025 Report, held on 18 February 2026 at Panari Hotel, in collaboration with the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD).
The forum brought together policymakers, researchers, and development stakeholders to discuss key population dynamics affecting the country both positively and negatively.
Declining Fertility and Increased Family Planning Uptake
The analysis showed that birth rates have steadily declined over the years, while the uptake of family planning has relatively increased. These gains were attributed partly to improved population data systems that provide stronger evidence on the socio-economic status and needs of Kenyans.
Addressing participants, Dr. Wambui spoke extensively on fertility trends and family planning, raising concern over childbearing patterns among women aged 15 to 49 years. She noted that increased contraceptive uptake has played a key role in fertility decline, a development that supports human capital development and economic growth objectives under Kenya Vision 2030.
Population Pressure and Education Gaps
Despite the progress made, the PSA 2025 report identified rapid population growth as a major challenge that continues to strain education, employment opportunities, and social services.
The forum also highlighted concerns that the boy child is increasingly being left behind as efforts to empower the girl child expand. However, data presented showed that girls still experience higher school dropout rates, prompting calls for targeted research to understand the underlying causes and develop sustainable, evidence-based solutions to address gender disparities in education.
Youth Unemployment and Skills Mismatch
Another key issue raised was the mismatch between education outcomes and labour market demands. The report pointed to a growing gap between the skills taught in educational institutions and those required by the job market. This disconnect has contributed to rising youth unemployment, with some sectors experiencing an oversupply of labour while others continue to face critical skills shortages.
Strengthening Primary Health Care and NCD Response
Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) services at the community level, particularly in integrating family planning and non-communicable disease (NCD) services. Enhanced community-based screening and capacity building were identified as key interventions to curb the rising burden of NCDs, especially among the elderly.
The forum called on the Ministry of Health to allocate adequate and sustainable funding to strengthen planning, service delivery, and the distribution of health services across the country.
Data, Policy, and Economic Transformation
Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, the Director General, Dr. Masini Ichwara, noted significant improvements in demographic data collection and representation. He commended Prof. Alfred Agwanda for leading the research, analysis, and compilation of the PSA 2025 report, describing it as a critical tool that will guide Kenya’s population planning and policy direction.
Dr. Ichwara emphasized that the report provides a strategic foundation for translating population data into actionable policies that drive economic transformation, productivity growth, and equitable resource allocation. He added that NCPD continues to serve as a vital bridge between the national and county governments, ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution of public resources.
Call to Action
NCPD encouraged citizens, policymakers, and development partners to access and read the PSA 2025 report through its official website, noting that informed engagement is essential to addressing Kenya’s population challenges.
“Our responsibility is to translate these population dynamics into coherent plans, sound policies, and targeted investments that improve the quality of life for all Kenyans,” the forum concluded.