Population in Kenya
Kenya: Population was 55.34 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in Kenya, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Kenya stood at 55.34 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Kenya peaked at 55.34 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.77 million people, in 1950.
Kenya ranks 26th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.50 million people | 5.77 million people | 7.42 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.22 million people | 7.70 million people | 10.94 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.34 million people | 11.37 million people | 15.46 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.94 million people | 16.02 million people | 22.12 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.26 million people | 22.89 million people | 29.73 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.36 million people | 30.64 million people | 40.41 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.51 million people | 41.60 million people | 51.20 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.76 million people | 52.22 million people | 55.34 million people | 4 |
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 population in Kenya?
- Population in Kenya was 55.34 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 55.34 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.77 million people in 1950.
- How does Kenya rank for population?
- Kenya ranks 26th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.