Political Polarization Score in Kenya
Kenya: Political Polarization Score was 0.669 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.669
Change on year
up 68.5%
World rank
74th
of 174 countries
All-time high
2.09
in 1952
All-time low
-2.08
in 1964
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in Kenya, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for political polarization score in Kenya is 0.669, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 68.5% on the previous year and up 1,215.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in Kenya peaked at 2.09 in 1952 and was at its lowest, -2.08, in 1964.
Kenya ranks 74th of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Political Polarization Score in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.672 | — |
| 1901 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.672 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 1.19 | +77.5% |
| 1922 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 1.19 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 2.09 | +75.2% |
| 1953 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 2.09 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1.71 | -18.1% |
| 1961 | 0.782 | -54.3% |
| 1962 | 0.782 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | -0.787 | -200.6% |
| 1964 | -2.08 | +164.0% |
| 1965 | -2.08 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.6 | -22.9% |
| 1967 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -0.885 | -44.8% |
| 1991 | -0.694 | -21.6% |
| 1992 | -0.308 | -55.6% |
| 1993 | -0.308 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.232 | -175.3% |
| 1995 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.063 | -72.8% |
| 2001 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.634 | +906.3% |
| 2004 | 0.142 | -77.6% |
| 2005 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.511 | +259.9% |
| 2007 | 0.276 | -46.0% |
| 2008 | 0.675 | +144.6% |
| 2009 | 0.384 | -43.1% |
| 2010 | -0.828 | -315.6% |
| 2011 | -0.36 | -56.5% |
| 2012 | 0.374 | -203.9% |
| 2013 | 1.19 | +216.8% |
| 2014 | 0.157 | -86.8% |
| 2015 | -0.06 | -138.2% |
| 2016 | 0.324 | -640.0% |
| 2017 | 1.2 | +269.4% |
| 2018 | -0.056 | -104.7% |
| 2019 | -0.45 | +703.6% |
| 2020 | -0.223 | -50.4% |
| 2021 | 0.364 | -263.2% |
| 2022 | 0.6 | +64.8% |
| 2023 | -0.629 | -204.8% |
| 2024 | 0.397 | -163.1% |
| 2025 | 0.669 | +68.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.669 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -0.095. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.669 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.425, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.672 | 0.672 | 0.672 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.672 | 0.672 | 0.672 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.14 | 0.672 | 1.19 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.91 | 1.19 | 2.09 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.8079 | -2.08 | 1.71 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.6 | -1.6 | -1.6 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.6 | -1.6 | -1.6 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.0803 | -0.885 | 0.232 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2953 | 0.063 | 0.675 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1483 | -0.828 | 1.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1963 | -0.629 | 0.669 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is political polarization score in Kenya?
- Political polarization score in Kenya was 0.669 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 2.09 in 1952.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.08 in 1964.
- How does Kenya rank for political polarization score?
- Kenya ranks 74th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,215.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.