Share of the population living in cities in Kenya
Kenya: Share of the population living in cities was 22.95 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
22.95
World rank
166th
of 236 countries
All-time high
22.95
in 2020
All-time low
3.27
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of the population living in cities in Kenya, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 22.95 for share of the population living in cities in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population living in cities in Kenya peaked at 22.95 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.27, in 1950.
Kenya ranks 166th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population living in cities in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.27 | — |
| 1955 | 3.7 | +13.2% |
| 1960 | 4.27 | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 4.82 | +12.9% |
| 1970 | 5.26 | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 6.08 | +15.6% |
| 1980 | 7.9 | +30.0% |
| 1985 | 9.15 | +15.8% |
| 1990 | 11.23 | +22.8% |
| 1995 | 13.04 | +16.2% |
| 2000 | 15.24 | +16.9% |
| 2005 | 16.18 | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 17.99 | +11.2% |
| 2015 | 20.46 | +13.7% |
| 2020 | 22.95 | +12.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 22.95 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.18, 60% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 22.95 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.31, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.48 | 3.27 | 3.7 | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.55 | 4.27 | 4.82 | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.67 | 5.26 | 6.08 | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.52 | 7.9 | 9.15 | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.14 | 11.23 | 13.04 | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.71 | 15.24 | 16.18 | 2 |
| 2010s | 19.22 | 17.99 | 20.46 | 2 |
| 2020s | 22.95 | 22.95 | 22.95 | 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 share of the population living in cities in Kenya?
- Share of the population living in cities in Kenya was 22.95 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 22.95 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.27 in 1950.
- How does Kenya rank for share of the population living in cities?
- Kenya ranks 166th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population living in cities rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population living in cities. 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).