Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 75.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Kenya, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Kenya is 75.3%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Kenya peaked at 75.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 22.9%, in 1950.
Kenya ranks 111th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 22.9% | — |
| 1955 | 25.0% | +9.0% |
| 1960 | 27.9% | +11.7% |
| 1965 | 31.6% | +13.3% |
| 1970 | 35.7% | +13.0% |
| 1975 | 39.6% | +10.9% |
| 1980 | 44.4% | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 49.7% | +11.9% |
| 1990 | 55.3% | +11.3% |
| 1995 | 58.5% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 62.1% | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 64.7% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 68.8% | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 72.5% | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 75.3% | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 23.9% | 22.9% | 25.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 29.8% | 27.9% | 31.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 37.7% | 35.7% | 39.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 47.0% | 44.4% | 49.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 56.9% | 55.3% | 58.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 63.4% | 62.1% | 64.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 68.8% | 72.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 75.3% | 75.3% | 75.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 108 Kyrgyzstan 75.5% compare
- 109 Antigua and Barbuda 75.5% compare
- 110 Libya 75.4% compare
- 112 Angola 75.2% compare
- 113 Guadeloupe 75.0% compare
- 114 Gambia 74.9% 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)
- 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 share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Kenya?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Kenya was 75.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.9% in 1950.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- Kenya ranks 111th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.