Completeness of Death Registration in Kenya by County

The completeness of death registration is the proportion of expected deaths to the actual number of registered deaths in a given year.^[1]

Like the completeness of birth registration, it measures the government’s capacity to account for all the deaths that occur in a given year.

A low completeness of death registration suggests that fewer deaths were registered compared to the expected number of deaths.

Quick Facts

1. In 2023, Kenya had a completeness of death registration of 45.1%.
2. The expected number of deaths in 2023 was 455,814.
3. Actual registered deaths in 2023 were 205,731.
4. The sex ratio of male-to-female deaths in Kenya was 128

More deaths were expected in Kenya, but fewer were registered

To calculate the completeness of death registration, we take into account the expected number of deaths and the actual registered deaths.

The expected number of deaths in Kenya in 2023, derived from the age-specific mortality rates of individuals in each age group, was 455,814.

The actual deaths recorded by Kenya’s civil registration services were 205,731.

In 2023, civil registration services recorded fewer than half of expected deaths. 

Less than half of the expected deaths are registered.

The completeness of death registration is the proportion of expected deaths to the number of deaths registered by civil registration services.

In Kenya, the completeness of death registration was 45.1% in 2023, meaning civil registrations registered fewer than half of the deaths expected.

Lower death reporting is more likely to occur in children under the age of five than in adults.

For instance, the 2019 Census found that among children under the age of five, male deaths were 25% more likely to be registered with authorities than those of girls.^[2]

This phenomenon was more prevalent in counties such as Lamu, Garissa, Bomet, Murang'a, West Pokot, and Narok.

More males die every year compared to females.

The data on registered deaths easily shows us the proportion of male-to-female deaths, leading us to an understanding of sex ratios in death.

In 2023, the actual number of registered male deaths was 115,507, while that of females was 90,224.

The sex ratio at death was, therefore, 128, meaning that for every 100 females that died in that year, there were 128 male deaths.

A higher number of male deaths explains the differences in life expectancy between men and women, with men likely to have a lower life expectancy.

A higher number of male deaths can be attributed to behavioral differences such as smoking, a higher frequency of violence and accidents among men, and a higher rate of successful suicides in males than females.^[3]

Completeness of birth registration by county

As is the case nationally, most counties have a low completeness of death registration, meaning they have fewer registered births than expected.

Uasin Gishu had the highest death registration completeness at 87.8%, followed by Mombasa at 83.1% and Nairobi at 66.7%.

Others include:

1. Bungoma 64.1
2. Kakamega 60.2
3. Trans Nzoia 56.4
4. Nyeri 55.7
5. Nakuru 54.3
6. Kisumu 51.6
7. Kiambu 50.3

The counties with the lowest death registration completeness were Mandera, at 7%; Wajir, at 13.9%; and Garissa, at 14.1%.

Others include:

1. Narok 18.6
2. Tana River 18.7
3. Samburu 21.7
4. Homa Bay 22.2
5. West Pokot 23
6. Kajiado 26.1
7. Elgeyo Marakwet 26.5
8. Migori 26.7
9. Nyamira 27.1
10. Turkana 27.2

See Also

1. Completeness of Birth Registration in Kenya by County
2. Number of Deaths in Kenya per Year
3. Life Expectancy in Kenya by County

References