Marriage in Kenya is nearly universal, with most adults in monogamous or polygynous relationships.
Recent estimates from the DHS showed that in 2022, Kenya's marriage rate among women aged 15 – 49 was 55.4%, while it was 45.8% among men.
Estimates from the 2019 census suggested a marriage rate of 51.1% among women aged 12 and above and 48.8% among men of the same age group.
However, despite the universality of marriage in the country, some courtships still end in divorce, separation, or, in the case of the death of a partner, widowhood. The 2019 census and the 2022 DHS provide a comprehensive outline of divorce distribution in Kenya.
Marriage is universal, but some still end in divorce
Even though a larger majority of adults in Kenya are married, some relationships still terminate in divorce.
Data from the DHS shows that 1.4% of women aged 15 – 49 were divorced in 2022, compared to 1% of men of the same age group.[1]
The 2019 census also found similar levels of divorce in the country, with 1.1% of women aged 12 and above being divorced and 0.6% of men aged 12 and above being divorced.[2]
Divorce is more prevalent in the later years of the marriage
Marriages become more strenuous as time passes, and there is no doubt some will result in divorce several years later. This phenomenon is evident in Kenya, whereby a slightly larger share of men and women in older age groups were likely to be divorced than those in younger age groups.
For instance, only 0.5% of women between the ages of 20 and 24 were divorced in 2022, compared to 2.8% of women between the ages of 45 and 49. In men, 0.6% of those aged 20 – 24 were divorced, compared to 2.4% among men aged 50 – 54.[3]
Census findings reveal the same pattern, with divorces increasing as marriages age. Among women aged 12 and above in 2019, only 0.5% of those aged between 20 – 24 were divorced, compared to 2.2% of women aged between 45 – 49.
Only 0.1% of men aged 20 – 24 were divorced, compared to 1.4% of men aged 45 – 49.[4]
North Eastern and coastal counties stand out in their rates of divorce
We find the distribution of divorce rates by county from the 2019 census, whereby the Coast Province and counties in the previous North Eastern Province stand out with divorce rates far above the mean.
The divorce rate among women in Kenya was highest in Lamu at 4.7%, then Mombasa at 2.9%, Garissa at 2.6%, Isiolo at 2.5%, Mandera at 2.4%, Kwale at 2.3%, Wajir and Tana River at 2.1%, Kilifi at 1.8%, and Taita Taveta at 1.7%.
In men, Lamu had a divorce rate of 2.7%, then Taita Taveta at 1.4%, Mombasa and Isiolo at 1.3%, Kwale at 1.2%, Kilifi at 1%, and Tharaka Nithi at 1%.
Conclusion
Despite the universality of marriage in Kenya, some unions still divorce. This is especially common in older marriages than young ones. Counties in the former Coast and North Eastern Provinces had the highest divorce rates in the country in 2019.
See Also
- Monogamy in Kenya by county
- Polygamy in Kenya by county
- Marriage rates in Kenya by county
- Separated men and women by county
References
[1] KNBS and ICF. 2023. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Volume 1. Nairobi, Kenya, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: KNBS and ICF.
[2] KNBS (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on fertility and nuptiality. Vol. VI
[3] KNBS and ICF. 2023. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Volume 1. Nairobi, Kenya, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: KNBS and ICF.
[4] KNBS (2022). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Analytical report on fertility and nuptiality. Vol. VI
