Kenya has ranked 10th among 54 African countries for estimated monthly average net salary, according to figures published by LiveGDP, an economic data platform that tracks global economic indicators and country rankings.

The country’s reported take-home pay stands at Ksh44,553 ($344) per month, placing it 132nd globally in the platform’s ranking. 

“Kenya records a monthly average net salary of $344 and ranks 10th in Africa,” the report stated.

Djibouti led Africa in the ranking at Ksh367,311 ($2,836), making it 27th globally, followed by South Africa at 164,486 ($1,270) and Seychelles at Ksh102,318 ($790). 

The rankings were based on net salary, which the platform calculated as the estimated amount employees receive after income taxes and other mandatory deductions, with figures converted into U.S. dollars for cross-country comparison. 

The report comes amid concerns over the growing pressure on salaried Kenyans’ disposable income from deductions including Pay As You Earn (PAYE), the 1.5 per cent Housing Levy and the 2.75 per cent Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) contribution.

Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius, Morocco, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon completed the remaining positions in the top 10 alongside Kenya. 

Kenya placed ahead of several East African countries, with Tanzania ranked 20th at Ksh25,255 ($195), Uganda 26th at Ksh20,722 ($160) and Rwanda 31st at 18,780 ($145).

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranked 33rd at Ksh18,392 ($142) and Somalia 42nd at Ksh15,540 ($120). 

According to the report, Kenya sits just behind Cameroon, which recorded Ksh44,683 ($345), while Ghana followed closely with Ksh44,035 ($340). 

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The figures show a wide gap across the continent, with 35 of the 54 countries recording monthly net salaries below Ksh25,903 ($200). 

South Sudan had the lowest reported figure at Ksh9,066 ($70), followed by Burundi at Ksh9,713 ($75), Sierra Leone at Ksh10,361 ($80), Gambia at Ksh11,008 ($85), and Malawi and Sudan at Ksh11,656 ($90) each. 

The report explained that differences in economic development, productivity, industries, skills, labour demand, taxation, inflation, currency values and employment conditions can influence salary levels across countries. 

However, the platform cautioned that nominal salary figures alone do not show how far earnings go, since housing, food, transport, healthcare, education, inflation, exchange rates and other living costs vary between countries. 

The ranking therefore provides a comparison of estimated take-home pay rather than a direct measure of living standards or purchasing power.