Population in the largest city in Kenya
Kenya: Population in the largest city was 14.22 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
14.22
World rank
148th
of 179 countries
All-time high
14.22
in 2020
All-time low
9.59
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Population in the largest city in Kenya, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, population in the largest city in Kenya stood at 14.22. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Kenya peaked at 14.22 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.59, in 1950.
That places Kenya 148th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.59 | — |
| 1955 | 10.17 | +6.0% |
| 1960 | 10.72 | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 10.78 | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 10.5 | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 10.06 | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 10.82 | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 11.37 | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 11.59 | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 12.69 | +9.5% |
| 2000 | 13.56 | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 13.54 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 13.2 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 13.69 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 14.22 | +3.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 14.22 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.93, 57% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 14.22 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.91, 49% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.88 | 9.59 | 10.17 | 2 |
| 1960s | 10.75 | 10.72 | 10.78 | 2 |
| 1970s | 10.28 | 10.06 | 10.5 | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.09 | 10.82 | 11.37 | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.14 | 11.59 | 12.69 | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.55 | 13.54 | 13.56 | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.44 | 13.2 | 13.69 | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.22 | 14.22 | 14.22 | 1 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.038 (2100)
- Population density 183.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.40 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Kenya?
- Population in the largest city in Kenya was 14.22 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 14.22 in 2020.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.59 in 1950.
- How does Kenya rank for population in the largest city?
- Kenya ranks 148th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).