Share of population living in rural areas in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population living in rural areas was 24.66 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
24.66
World rank
126th
of 236 countries
All-time high
77.09
in 1950
All-time low
24.66
in 2020
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of population living in rural areas in Kenya, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 24.66 for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Kenya peaked at 77.09 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 24.66, in 2020.
That places Kenya 126th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 77.09 | — |
| 1955 | 75.02 | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 72.1 | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 68.39 | -5.1% |
| 1970 | 64.29 | -6.0% |
| 1975 | 60.39 | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 55.59 | -7.9% |
| 1985 | 50.33 | -9.5% |
| 1990 | 44.72 | -11.1% |
| 1995 | 41.54 | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 37.9 | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 35.3 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 31.18 | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 27.48 | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 24.66 | -10.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 24.66 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.75, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 24.66 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.61, 81% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 76.05 | 75.02 | 77.09 | 2 |
| 1960s | 70.25 | 68.39 | 72.1 | 2 |
| 1970s | 62.34 | 60.39 | 64.29 | 2 |
| 1980s | 52.96 | 50.33 | 55.59 | 2 |
| 1990s | 43.13 | 41.54 | 44.72 | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.6 | 35.3 | 37.9 | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.33 | 27.48 | 31.18 | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.66 | 24.66 | 24.66 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 123 Gambia 25.15 compare
- 124 Guadeloupe 24.99 compare
- 125 Angola 24.77 compare
- 127 Libya 24.57 compare
- 128 Antigua and Barbuda 24.54 compare
- 129 Kyrgyzstan 24.49 compare
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 share of population living in rural areas in Kenya?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Kenya was 24.66 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 77.09 in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.66 in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Kenya ranks 126th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. 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).