Africa · Eastern Africa
Kenya Demographics
Kenya has a young age structure, continued population growth, fertility above the replacement-level benchmark, and a rising working-age population share.
Latest cross-country indicators use World Bank World Development Indicators and UN DESA World Population Prospects where available. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2019 Census data is used for the detailed age-sex structure and census-based reference values.
Last updated: June 30, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population, total | 56,432,944 | 2024 | World Bank WDI, mid-year estimate |
| Population growth | 2.0% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Average annual population growth | 2.5% | 2000-2024 | World Bank WDI table value |
| Median age | 19.8 years | 2024 | UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Population aged 0-14 | 36.84% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 15-64 | 60.2% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 65+ | 2.97% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Working-age population | 33,971,376 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Total fertility rate | 3.2 births per woman | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | 63.8 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 61.6 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 66.1 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Urban population share | 30.1% | 2024 | World Bank WDI urban share series |
| Urban population count | 17,998,601 | 2024 | World Bank WDI urban population series |
| Net migration | -27,330 | 2025 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| Population density | 95.3 people per sq. km | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Land area | 580,876.3 sq. km | 2023 | World Bank WDI / FAOSTAT |
| 2019 census enumerated population | 47,564,296 | 2019 | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 KPHC |
Table analysis
- The World Bank WDI mid-year estimate places Kenya at 56,432,944 people in 2024.
- The latest WDI growth value is 2.0%, while the 2000-2024 average annual growth value in the WDI table is 2.5%.
- Kenya remains young by global standards: the 2024 median age is listed at 19.8 years.
- The WDI age composition places the 0-14 population at 36.84% and the 65+ population at 2.97%.
- The 2019 census count is lower than later WDI mid-year estimates because it is a census enumeration at a specific reference date, not a modelled mid-year series.
Population Trend
Kenya Population Trend
Selected World Bank WDI mid-year population estimates
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators. Values are mid-year population estimates and are not census counts.
Trend analysis
- The WDI series rises from 22.9 million in 1990 to 56.4 million in 2024.
- The 2024 population is about 1.85 times the 2000 value of 30.6 million.
- Annual additions in the visible 2020-2024 rows remain close to one million people per year.
Historical Population Table
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Yearly % change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 22,892,651 | Data not available | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
| 2000 | 30,642,890 | Data not available | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
| 2016 | 48,139,687 | Data not available | 2.2% | World Bank WDI |
| 2017 | 49,197,766 | +1,058,079 | 2.20% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2018 | 50,207,107 | +1,009,341 | 2.05% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2019 | 51,202,827 | +995,720 | 1.98% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2020 | 52,217,334 | +1,014,507 | 1.98% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2021 | 53,219,166 | +1,001,832 | 1.92% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2022 | 54,252,461 | +1,033,295 | 1.94% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2023 | 55,339,003 | +1,086,542 | 2.00% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
| 2024 | 56,432,944 | +1,093,941 | 1.98% | World Bank WDI; change calculated from WDI population rows |
Table analysis
- The visible WDI population series passes 50 million in 2018.
- The 2024 annual increase calculated from WDI rows is +1,093,941.
- Rounded growth values stay near 2% across the latest five rows.
Age Structure
Kenya Broad Age Structure
Share of total population by broad age group
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Broad age groups are not a full population pyramid.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 20,787,672 | 36.84% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 15-64 | 33,971,376 | 60.2% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| 65+ | 1,673,896 | 2.97% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
Data analysis
- The working-age group is the largest broad category at 60.2% of the population.
- The 0-14 share remains high at 36.84%, showing a young population base.
- The 65+ share is below 3%, much lower than in older-age populations.
Age-Sex Population Structure
Kenya Population Pyramid
2019 census population by five-year age group and sex
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Volume III. The both-sex total includes intersex persons, so male plus female may not equal total in every row.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 3,005,496 | 2,985,484 | 5,991,128 | 50.2% | 49.8% | 100.7 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 5-9 | 3,116,101 | 3,084,445 | 6,200,719 | 50.3% | 49.7% | 101.0 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 10-14 | 3,209,544 | 3,136,149 | 6,345,864 | 50.6% | 49.4% | 102.3 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 15-19 | 2,686,476 | 2,599,905 | 5,286,535 | 50.8% | 49.2% | 103.3 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 20-24 | 2,112,777 | 2,335,052 | 4,448,037 | 47.5% | 52.5% | 90.5 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 25-29 | 1,839,256 | 2,014,546 | 3,853,955 | 47.7% | 52.3% | 91.3 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 30-34 | 1,698,354 | 1,871,625 | 3,570,133 | 47.6% | 52.4% | 90.7 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 35-39 | 1,347,962 | 1,301,624 | 2,649,679 | 50.9% | 49.1% | 103.6 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 40-44 | 1,156,932 | 1,101,867 | 2,258,861 | 51.2% | 48.8% | 105.0 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 45-49 | 916,166 | 869,740 | 1,785,957 | 51.3% | 48.7% | 105.3 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 50-54 | 662,864 | 645,463 | 1,308,371 | 50.7% | 49.3% | 102.7 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 55-59 | 546,852 | 571,000 | 1,117,878 | 48.9% | 51.1% | 95.8 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 60-64 | 419,362 | 450,447 | 869,837 | 48.2% | 51.8% | 93.1 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 65-69 | 311,281 | 346,756 | 658,052 | 47.3% | 52.7% | 89.8 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 70-74 | 235,929 | 278,507 | 514,453 | 45.9% | 54.1% | 84.7 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 75-79 | 119,265 | 163,799 | 283,071 | 42.1% | 57.9% | 72.8 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 80-84 | 82,909 | 120,944 | 203,856 | 40.7% | 59.3% | 68.6 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 85-89 | 43,948 | 69,635 | 113,587 | 38.7% | 61.3% | 63.1 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 90-94 | 19,225 | 35,866 | 55,095 | 34.9% | 65.1% | 53.6 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 95-99 | 9,768 | 18,233 | 28,001 | 34.9% | 65.1% | 53.6 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
| 100+ | 3,905 | 10,183 | 14,088 | 27.7% | 72.3% | 38.3 | 2019 | KNBS 2019 KPHC Volume III |
Age-sex analysis
- The largest five-year age group in the 2019 census table is 10-14, with 6,345,864 people.
- The 0-14 census broad group totals 18,537,711, or 38.98% of the age-sex table total.
- Female counts exceed male counts in the 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34 groups.
- Male counts are higher than female counts in several child and middle-age groups, including 10-14 and 45-49.
- Older ages are female-heavy: the sex ratio falls from 89.8 at 65-69 to 38.3 at 100+.
- The age-sex table is a census count for 2019 and should not be treated as a 2024 age-sex estimate.
Fertility and Life Expectancy
Fertility Compared With Replacement Level
Total fertility rate, births per woman
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Replacement level is a broad benchmark and is not a country-specific threshold.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life expectancy at birth, years
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024.
| Year | Fertility rate | Life expectancy total | Male | Female | Female-male gap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.36 | 61.6 | 59.2 | 64.2 | 5.1 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| 2021 | 3.31 | 61.2 | 59.0 | 63.6 | 4.7 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| 2022 | 3.26 | 63.5 | 61.3 | 65.9 | 4.6 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| 2023 | 3.21 | 63.6 | 61.5 | 65.9 | 4.5 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
| 2024 | 3.2 | 63.8 | 61.6 | 66.1 | 4.5 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP |
Data analysis
- The 2024 fertility rate is 3.2 births per woman, above the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1.
- Life expectancy at birth is 63.8 years in 2024.
- The 2024 female-male life expectancy gap is about 4.5 years.
- The table separates fertility, total life expectancy and sex-specific life expectancy because they measure different demographic processes.
Urbanization, Migration and Density
Urban Population Share
Share of population living in urban areas
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Urban definitions follow national and UN World Urbanization Prospects conventions.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban population share | 30.1% | 2024 | World Bank WDI urban share series |
| Urban population count | 17,998,601 | 2024 | World Bank WDI urban population count series |
| Net migration | -27,330 | 2025 | World Bank WDI / UN WPP estimate |
| Population density | 95.3 people per sq. km of land area | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Land area | 580,876.3 sq. km | 2023 | World Bank WDI / FAOSTAT |
Data analysis
- The WDI urban share value is 30.1% for 2024.
- The urban count series gives 17,998,601 urban residents in 2024.
- Net migration is negative in the latest WDI row shown here: -27,330 in 2025.
- Urban count and urban share series may not divide exactly against the same total population base because urban series use national urban definitions and UN urbanization methods.
2019 Census Regional Distribution
| Area | Population | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rift Valley | 12,752,966 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| Eastern | 6,821,049 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| Nyanza | 6,269,579 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| Central | 5,482,239 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| Western | 5,021,843 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| Nairobi City | 4,397,073 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| Coast | 4,329,474 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
| North Eastern | 2,490,073 | 2019 | 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census |
Table analysis
- Rift Valley is the largest area in this census grouping, with 12,752,966 people.
- Nairobi City has 4,397,073 residents in the 2019 census row.
- The table uses 2019 census geography and should not be read as a 2024 regional estimate.
Population Projection Scenario
Kenya Census-Based Population Projection
Official national projection values from the 2019 census projection report
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Analytical Report on Population Projections, Vol. XVI. Projection values are scenario-based and should not be combined with WDI mid-year estimates as a single trend line.
| Year | Projected population | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 48.8 million | Census-based official national projection | KNBS 2019 KPHC Population Projections Vol. XVI |
| 2025 | 53.3 million | Census-based official national projection | KNBS 2019 KPHC Population Projections Vol. XVI |
| 2030 | 57.8 million | Census-based official national projection | KNBS 2019 KPHC Population Projections Vol. XVI |
| 2035 | 62.2 million | Census-based official national projection | KNBS 2019 KPHC Population Projections Vol. XVI |
| 2040 | 66.3 million | Census-based official national projection | KNBS 2019 KPHC Population Projections Vol. XVI |
| 2045 | 70.2 million | Census-based official national projection | KNBS 2019 KPHC Population Projections Vol. XVI |
Projection analysis
- The KNBS projection table rises from 48.8 million in 2020 to 70.2 million in 2045.
- The increase between 2025 and 2045 in this projection table is 16.9 million.
- Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
- The projection series is kept separate from WDI mid-year population estimates because the source base and method differ.
Demographic Overview
Kenya continues to grow in the WDI series, reaching 56.4 million people in 2024 with a latest annual growth value near 2%.
The 2024 broad age profile is young: 36.84% are aged 0-14 and only 2.97% are aged 65 or older.
The 2019 census age-sex table shows more males in several child and middle-age groups, while older age groups are female-heavy.
The total fertility rate is 3.2 births per woman in 2024, above the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1.
The World Bank urban share series places Kenya at 30.1% urban in 2024, while the urban count series gives about 18.0 million urban residents.
Census counts, mid-year estimates, urban series and projections are different measurement types and are shown separately.
Data Sources and Methodology
Values are shown with their source year and measurement type. Missing values are not estimated. Some indicators are rounded for readability; table cells with calculated changes are identified as calculated from visible source rows.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024 latest indicator year for most core indicators; 2025 for net migration | Population, growth, age shares, fertility, life expectancy, urban population, migration, land area and density values. |
| UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 | 2024 revision | Median age and underlying UN demographic series referenced by WDI indicators. |
| Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Volume III | 2019 census publication | Detailed age-sex population table, population pyramid and census age structure. |
| Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019 Census Analytical Report on Population Projections, Vol. XVI | Projection report based on 2019 census | Census-based official national projection table and projection chart. |
| FAOSTAT through World Bank WDI | 2023 land area row | Land area and population density context. |
Method note
- World Bank population values are mid-year estimates and may differ from a census count taken at a specific reference date.
- Age-sex counts use the 2019 census because detailed five-year age group by sex data is visible for that source.
- The urban share and urban count series use urban definitions and estimation methods that can differ from a simple division against total population.
- Projection values are kept in a separate table and chart because projections are not observed values.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Kenya demographic values can differ by source because census counts, resident population, de facto mid-year estimates, model estimates and projections are not the same measurement. Fertility rate means births per woman, not crude birth rate. Life expectancy total, male and female values are separate indicators. Net migration is immigrants minus emigrants over a period and is not the same as migrant stock. Urban population depends on national urban definitions and UN urbanization methods. Age-sex shares in the 2019 census are census-year values and should not be used as 2024 estimates without a separate age-sex projection dataset.
Data Notes
What is Kenya’s latest population in this profile?
The latest core population value shown here is 56,432,944 for 2024 from the World Bank World Development Indicators mid-year estimate series.
Why is the 2019 census population lower than the later WDI values?
The 2019 census is an enumeration at a census reference date. The WDI series is a mid-year estimate series and is updated across years using demographic estimation methods.
Is the age-sex pyramid based on 2024 data?
No. The detailed population pyramid uses the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census age-sex table because that source provides five-year age groups by sex.
Are the projection values guaranteed future population counts?
No. Projection values are scenario-based estimates. They depend on assumptions about fertility, mortality and migration and must remain separate from observed or estimated historical values.