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
165th
of 229 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 165th of 229 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% |
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
- 162 Montenegro 23.61 compare
- 163 Niger 23.51 compare
- 164 Tanzania, United Republic of 23.08 compare
- 166 Luxembourg 22.73 compare
- 167 Republic of Moldova 22.27 compare
- 168 Czechia 22.23 compare
More population data for Kenya
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.038 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.9 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled 604,257 (2024)
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 165th out of 229 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).