Key numbers
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya's population (2019 census) | 47,564,296 | [1] |
| Average household size, Kenya | 3.9 people (down from 4.2 in 2009) | [2] |
| Smallest households | Nairobi, 2.9 people | [1] |
| Largest households | Mandera, 6.9 people | [1] |
| Households that own their home | 61.3% (38.7% rent or live in provided housing) | [1] |
| Homes with earth or sand floors | 30.0% | [1] |
| Homes with concrete or cement floors | 43.7% | [1] |
| Insomnia among patients at a Nairobi sleep centre | 40% | [3] |
| Women in Mathare and Kibera with poor-quality sleep | Nearly 3 in 10 | [3] |
| Mosquito-net non-users in a Busia study who blamed bedbugs | 79% | [4] |
| Kenya mattress market (industry estimate) | About USD 180 million (2025) | [5] |
Sleep in Kenya
At the Sleep Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, described as the only sleep laboratory in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa, insomnia makes up 40% of cases, sleep apnoea 30%, narcolepsy 15% and parasomnias 15%.[3] The same report cites a BMC Women's Health study that found nearly three in ten women in Nairobi's Mathare and Kibera settlements met the criteria for poor-quality sleep.[3]
What this means when buying: a mattress won't cure a sleep disorder, and anyone with ongoing sleep problems should see a doctor. But a sagging, too-soft or too-hot mattress is a common, fixable cause of poor sleep. See firmness by sleep position.
Limits: the clinic percentages describe patients referred to one specialist centre, not the whole population, and the report gives no sample size.
Households, homes and beds
| County | Average household size (2019) |
|---|---|
| Mandera | 6.9 |
| Wajir | 6.1 |
| Garissa | 5.9 |
| Marsabit | 5.8 |
| Turkana | 5.6 |
| Kenya average | 3.9 |
| Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu | 3.0 |
| Nairobi | 2.9 |
Kenyan households range from under three people in Nairobi to almost seven in Mandera.[1] Larger households often share beds or need several, which is why the 5 by 6 and 6 by 6 sizes, and bulk orders of 3 by 6 for children, matter in many homes. In Nairobi's smaller rental units, room size is often the limit: check yours with the bed size calculator.
Almost a third of homes have earth or sand floors and over 40% have concrete.[1] Both let moisture reach a mattress laid directly on the floor. A slatted base or raised pallet adds years of life. See how long a mattress lasts.
Bedbugs and malaria nets
A 2025 study of 77 residents in Matayos, Busia County, found 85% had mosquito nets and 78% of those used them. Among those who didn't, 79% said nets harbour bedbugs, and bedbug presence was linked to net use (p = 0.001).[4] Getting rid of bedbugs is a sleep issue and a malaria issue. Read bedbugs and your mattress.
Limits: a small sample in one community unit; results may differ elsewhere in Kenya.
The Kenyan mattress market
Ken Research, a private market research firm, estimates Kenya's mattress market at about USD 180 million in 2025, growing about 6.75% a year to around USD 250 million by 2031, with roughly 60% of the market in informal or unbranded sellers.[5]
Limits: this is a commercial estimate, not official statistics, and the method is not public. Treat the figures as indicative.
Mattresses Kenya range data
Our own catalogue, as of 2026-10-08: 24 models, each in all five Kenyan sizes (120 size options), 6 to 12 inches thick, rated 4 to 9 on our 1 to 10 firmness scale.
| Type | Models | Share of range |
|---|---|---|
| Foam | 6 | 25% |
| Orthopedic | 5 | 21% |
| Spring | 3 | 12% |
| Memory foam | 3 | 12% |
| Pillow-top | 2 | 8% |
| Hybrid | 2 | 8% |
| Hybrid orthopedic | 2 | 8% |
| Pillow-top spring | 1 | 4% |
| Thickness | Models |
|---|---|
| 6 inch | 4 |
| 8 inch | 6 |
| 10 inch | 9 |
| 12 inch | 5 |
See every model ranked in the firmness index.
Use this data
Journalists, students and bloggers are welcome to quote this page. Please link to it and cite the original sources below. Corrections: WhatsApp 0702 413 400.
Sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, as reported in Census 2019 Breakdown: All Details as Released By KNBS, Kenyans.co.ke. Full reports: knbs.or.ke. Accessed 8 October 2026.
- Major highlights of Kenya's Census 2019 results, Citizen Digital, quoting KNBS. Accessed 8 October 2026.
- World Sleep Day: Four in 10 Kenyans battle insomnia, The Standard. Accessed 8 October 2026.
- Chebii K, Injera WE, Juma KK, Odiwuor CA, Ogombo C. Impact of bedbug's infestation on use of mosquito nets in malaria control in Matayos, Busia, Kenya. Int J Community Med Public Health, 2025. DOI 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20250605.
- Ken Research, Kenya Mattress and Sleep Economy Market. Accessed 8 October 2026.
Questions
What is the average household size in Kenya?
3.9 people per household in the 2019 census, down from 4.2 in 2009. Nairobi has the smallest households (2.9) and Mandera the largest (6.9).
How common is insomnia in Kenya?
There is no national figure. At the Sleep Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, insomnia accounts for 40% of patients.
How big is the mattress market in Kenya?
Ken Research estimates about USD 180 million in 2025, growing about 6.75% a year. This is a private industry estimate.
Can I quote these figures?
Yes. Please link to this page and cite the original sources listed at the bottom.