Registered deaths are those that are certified by a medical practitioner.
According to the Civil Registration Services, "it is the responsibility of the medical practitioner signing a register of death to indicate which morbid conditions or injuries initiated the trail of morbid events leading directly to death and state the antecedent conditions that are not related to the underlying cause."[1]
In 2024, the total number of registered deaths was 206,417.
However, the CRS notes that only 54.9% of registered deaths were certified by a medical practitioner. The rest of the deaths (45.1%) occurred in the community and were not certified.
Quick Facts
- The leading cause of registered deaths in Kenyan health facilities was pneumonia in 2024.
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia were the leading causes of registered deaths among neonates, infants, and children under 5 years.
- Anemia was the leading cause of registered deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years in 2024.
- Injuries were the leading cause of registered deaths among adults aged 15 – 29 in 2024.
- Cancer was the leading cause of registered deaths among individuals aged 30 – 59 years in 2024.
- Cancer was the leading cause of registered deaths among individuals aged 60 years and above in 2024.
Pneumonia was the leading cause of registered deaths in Kenya
In 2024, pneumonia was the leading cause of registered deaths in Kenya, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Below is a list of the leading causes of registered deaths in Kenyan health facilities in 2024.
- Pneumonia 9,682
- Cancer 8,954
- Cardiovascular diseases 7,478
- Hypertension 5,035
- Injuries 4,574
- Anemia 4,572
- Kidney diseases 4,247
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia 4,223
- Diabetes 3,822
- Heart disease 3,730
The total number of registered deaths in Kenyan health facilities in 2024 was 113,379.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among Kenyan males
The leading causes of death among males tend to differ from those among females. In 2024, the leading cause of death among males was pneumonia.
Below is a list of the ten leading causes of death among Kenyan males in 2024:
- Pneumonia 5,244
- Cancer 4,456
- Cardiovascular diseases 3,894
- Injuries 3,696
- Kidney diseases 2,439
- Anemia 2,425
- Hypertension 2,316
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia 2,089
- Diabetes 1,900
- Heart disease 1,890
The total number of registered male deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities in 2024 was 62,451.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among Kenyan females
Cancer was the leading cause of registered deaths among Kenyan females, followed by pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases.
Below is a list of the top ten leading causes of registered deaths among Kenyan females:
- Cancer 4,498
- Pneumonia 4,438
- Cardiovascular diseases 3,584
- Hypertension 2,719
- Anemia 2,147
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia 2,134
- Diabetes 1,922
- Heart disease 1,840
- Kidney diseases 1,808
- HIV/AIDS 1,380
The total number of registered female deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities in 2024 was 50,926.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among neonates
Neonates are infants who are less than a month old. In 2024, the leading causes of registered deaths among Kenyan neonates were prematurity and birth asphyxia, followed by respiratory and neonatal conditions.
Below is a list of the ten leading causes of registered deaths among neonates in Kenya:
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia 3,985
- Respiratory disorders 1,011
- Neonatal conditions 965
- Pneumonia 263
- Sepsis 213
- Respiratory infections 166
- Kidney diseases 147
- Heart disease 115
- Septic shock 75
- Airway obstruction 60
The total number of registered neonate deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities in 2024 was 9,404.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among infants
Infants are children who are less than a year old. In 2024, prematurity and birth asphyxia were the leading causes of death among infants.
Below is a list of the leading causes of death among Kenyan infants in 2024:
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia 4,112
- Pneumonia 1,912
- Respiratory conditions 1,170
- Neonatal conditions 974
- Sepsis 460
- Gastroenteritis 389
- Septic shock 334
- Meningitis 298
- Heart disease 245
- Anemia 242
The total number of registered infant deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities was 15,370 in 2024.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths in children under five years old
The leading causes of death among children under five years old in Kenya were prematurity and birth asphyxia.
Below is a list of the leading causes of registered deaths among children under five deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities:
- Prematurity and birth asphyxia 4,112
- Pneumonia 2,816
- Respiratory disorders 1,303
- Neonatal conditions 974
- Sepsis 604
- Gastroenteritis 602
- Anemia 550
- Septic shock 476
- Meningitis 464
- Malaria 404
The total number of registered deaths among under-five-year-olds occurring in Kenyan health facilities was 20,156.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among children aged 5 – 14 in 2024
The leading cause of death among children aged 5 – 14 in 2024 was anemia, followed by pneumonia and malaria.
Below is a list of the leading causes of death among children aged 5 – 14 years.
- Anemia 362
- Pneumonia 301
- Malaria 242
- Cancer 171
- Injuries 158
- Meningitis 108
- Sepsis 101
- Kidney diseases 95
- Heart disease 90
- Road traffic accidents 72
The total number of registered deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years occurring in health facilities was 3,487.
The top 10 leading causes of registered death among adults aged 15 – 29 years in 2024
Injuries were the leading cause of registered deaths among Kenyan adults aged 15 – 29 years in 2024.
Below is a list of the leading causes of registered deaths among individuals aged 15 – 29 years in 2024:
- Injuries 1,303
- Cardiovascular diseases 602
- Road traffic accidents 537
- Anemia 536
- Pneumonia 472
- Cancer 421
- HIV/AIDS 289
- Hemorrhage 284
- Tuberculosis 269
- Meningitis 257
The total number of registered deaths among individuals aged 15 – 29 occurring in Kenyan health facilities in 2024 was 9,961.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among adults aged 30 – 49 years in 2024
Cancer was the leading cause of registered deaths among individuals aged 30 – 49 years in 2024.
Below is a list of the leading causes of death among individuals aged 30 – 49 in 2024.
- Cancer 1,896
- Injuries 1,753
- Cardiovascular diseases 1,664
- Pneumonia 1,351
- HIV/AIDS 1,330
- Tuberculosis 1,042
- Anemia 1000
- Road traffic accidents 850
- Kidney diseases 808
- Hypertension 697
The total number of registered deaths among individuals aged 30 – 49 years in 2024 was 23,823.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among individuals aged 50 – 59 in 2024.
Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the leading causes of registered deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities among individuals aged 50 – 59 years.
Below is a list of the leading causes of registered deaths among individuals aged 50 – 59 years in 2024:
- Cancer 1,618
- Cardiovascular diseases 966
- Pneumonia 719
- Hypertension 661
- Kidney diseases 543
- Diabetes 531
- HIV/AIDS 468
- Heart disease 451
- Anemia 439
- Injuries 428
The total number of registered deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities among individuals aged 50 – 59 in 2024 was 12,003.
The top 10 leading causes of registered deaths among individuals aged 60 years and above
Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the leading causes of death occurring in health facilities among individuals aged 60 years and above in 2024.
Below is a list of the leading causes of registered deaths among individuals aged 60 years and above in 2024:
- Cancer 4,633
- Cardiovascular diseases 4,113
- Pneumonia 3,926
- Hypertension 3,509
- Kidney diseases 2,217
- Diabetes 2,160.
- Heart disease 1,997
- Anemia 1,640
- Sepsis 1,203
- Cerebrovascular disease 1,061
The total number of registered deaths occurring in Kenyan health facilities among individuals who were 60 years and above in 2024 was 42,517.
See Also
- Number of deaths in Kenya per year
- Adult mortality rate in Kenya by county
- Completeness of death registration in Kenya
- Sex ratio at death in Kenya by County
- Life expectancy at birth in Kenya by County
References
[1] CRS, 2025. Kenya Vital Statistics Report, 2024.. Nairobi, Kenya