Mortality rates for males surpassed females across nearly all age brackets in 2025, with the most significant increase observed among Kenyans aged 75 and older, according to recent statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
The most recent KNBS report indicates that recorded fatalities among individuals aged 75 and above skyrocketed from 49,583 in 2024 to 83,465 in 2025, representing the highest mortality burden among all demographic segments.
Within this age group, male deaths climbed from 23,273 in 2024 to 42,031 in 2025, while female fatalities increased from 26,310 to 41,434 during the same timeframe.
According to KNBS, Kenya documented 217,601 registered deaths in 2025, an increase from the 206,417 recorded in the prior year.
The bureau noted that males constituted the majority of fatalities across most age groups, indicating ongoing gender differences in mortality trends.
The latest mortality report from KNBS highlighted that ‘in 2025, male deaths surpassed female deaths across most age categories.’
The report reveals that mortality among children aged five to 14 remained the lowest nationwide, decreasing marginally from 6,366 in 2024 to 5,893 in 2025.
Mortality rates for infants also stayed relatively low, with fatalities among children under one year reaching 20,249.
The increase in elderly deaths may mirror Kenya’s expanding aging population, rising chronic health conditions, and enhanced death registration processes.
The data further demonstrates that males consistently experienced higher mortality rates in economically productive age ranges, particularly 25 to 54, where work-related hazards, lifestyle ailments, and postponed medical attention frequently result in elevated death tolls.
For example, within the 35 to 44 age cohort, male deaths reached 14,486 versus 9,171 female fatalities.
Likewise, in the 45 to 54 demographic, male deaths totaled 14,895 while female deaths numbered 9,177.
Across the general population, total registered deaths increased to 217,601 in 2025, up from 206,417 in 2024. Among these, 121,991 were male and 95,609 were female, further emphasizing the gender gap in fatality rates.
The report underscores the necessity of specialized health policies to address challenges confronting various demographic segments.
Although advancements in healthcare and living standards have helped decrease mortality rates in younger generations, the escalating deaths among older individuals indicate developing challenges.
The statistics call for greater emphasis on elderly care, chronic condition management, and preventive healthcare measures, especially for men who maintain higher fatality rates.
The report additionally emphasizes the significance of reinforcing healthcare infrastructure for both aging populations and vulnerable working-age demographics.
Although reduced fatalities among younger children may signal advancements in pediatric health initiatives, the increasing mortality burden among senior Kenyans represents a mounting policy challenge.
The KNBS data portrays an evolving mortality panorama in Kenya, where extended lifespans, chronic conditions, and demographic aging are progressively influencing national death trends.