Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Kenya
Kenya: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 1,705 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,705 thousands
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
58th
of 233 countries
All-time high
1,705 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
253.53 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Kenya, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 1,705 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 52.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Kenya peaked at 1,705 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 253.53 thousands, in 1970.
Kenya ranks 58th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 253.53 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 257.05 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 260.24 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 264.61 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 270.27 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 276.97 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 284.22 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 291.77 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 302.21 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 313.74 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 325.38 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 337.85 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 350.61 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 365.07 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 381.11 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 397.19 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 413.79 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 430.6 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 448.29 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 466.48 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 484.71 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 502.4 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 519.08 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 536.57 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 554.61 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 574.22 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 593.76 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 612.96 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 631.92 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 651.37 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 672.25 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 692.96 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 714.04 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 732.59 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 750.05 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 767.45 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 784.3 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 801.41 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 817.04 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 834.09 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 852.92 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 886.96 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 935.89 thousands | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 984.21 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 1,044 thousands | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 1,116 thousands | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 1,185 thousands | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 1,219 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 1,281 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 1,374 thousands | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 1,439 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 1,474 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 1,526 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 1,581 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 1,643 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 1,705 thousands | +3.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 1,705 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 516.96 thousands, 3.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 1,705 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 448.46 thousands, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 277.46 thousands | 253.53 thousands | 313.74 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 391.64 thousands | 325.38 thousands | 466.48 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 566.16 thousands | 484.71 thousands | 651.37 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 756.62 thousands | 672.25 thousands | 834.09 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,088 thousands | 852.92 thousands | 1,374 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,561 thousands | 1,439 thousands | 1,705 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More population data for Kenya
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1094 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 85,212 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7363 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 183.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.40 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in Kenya?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Kenya was 1,705 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1,705 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 253.53 thousands in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Kenya ranks 58th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release