Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya
Kenya: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 1.61 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.61 million people
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
58th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.61 million people
in 2023
All-time low
240,334 people
in 1963
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya is 1.61 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 58.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya peaked at 1.61 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 240,334 people, in 1963.
Kenya ranks 58th 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.
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 305,513 people | — |
| 1951 | 298,142 people | -2.4% |
| 1952 | 291,016 people | -2.4% |
| 1953 | 284,064 people | -2.4% |
| 1954 | 277,457 people | -2.3% |
| 1955 | 271,258 people | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 265,426 people | -2.1% |
| 1957 | 260,029 people | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 254,893 people | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 250,166 people | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 246,217 people | -1.6% |
| 1961 | 243,069 people | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 241,022 people | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 240,334 people | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 240,620 people | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 241,502 people | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 243,072 people | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 245,439 people | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 248,417 people | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 251,729 people | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 255,238 people | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 258,595 people | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 262,391 people | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 267,418 people | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 273,607 people | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 280,587 people | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 287,989 people | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 296,986 people | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 307,973 people | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 319,558 people | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 331,613 people | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 344,230 people | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 357,840 people | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 373,086 people | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 389,145 people | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 405,488 people | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 422,187 people | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 439,435 people | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 457,377 people | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 475,590 people | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 493,555 people | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 510,735 people | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 527,820 people | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 545,582 people | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 564,411 people | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 583,983 people | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 603,357 people | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 622,435 people | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 641,640 people | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 661,807 people | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 682,591 people | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 703,468 people | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 723,260 people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 741,243 people | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 758,650 people | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 775,757 people | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 792,727 people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 809,088 people | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 825,411 people | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 843,337 people | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 869,727 people | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 911,058 people | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 959,437 people | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 1.01 million people | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 1.08 million people | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 1.15 million people | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 1.20 million people | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 1.25 million people | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 1.32 million people | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 1.40 million people | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 1.45 million people | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 1.50 million people | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 1.55 million people | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 1.61 million people | +3.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 1.61 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 495,679 people, 3.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 1.61 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 418,208 people, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 275,796 people | 250,166 people | 305,513 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 244,142 people | 240,334 people | 251,729 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 281,034 people | 255,238 people | 319,558 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 399,599 people | 331,613 people | 475,590 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 575,532 people | 493,555 people | 661,807 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 765,553 people | 682,591 people | 843,337 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.12 million people | 869,727 people | 1.40 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.53 million people | 1.45 million people | 1.61 million people | 4 |
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 number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Kenya was 1.61 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.61 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 240,334 people in 1963.
- How does Kenya rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- Kenya ranks 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.8%. 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 Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.