Share of population living in urbanized areas in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 30.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Kenya, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Kenya is 30.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Kenya peaked at 30.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Kenya 183rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1840s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1880s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1950s | 6.3% | 5.6% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.5% | 7.4% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.7% | 10.3% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.8% | 15.7% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.9% | 18.2% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 19.9% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.5% | 22.2% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.7% | 27.3% | 30.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More population data for Kenya
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.40 million people (2100)
- Population density 183.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 604,257 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.21 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Kenya?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Kenya was 30.0% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Kenya ranks 183rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.