Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya
Kenya: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 32.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya stood at 32.2%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya peaked at 32.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 1950.
Kenya ranks 206th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.0% | 5.9% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.0% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.8% | 10.1% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.1% | 15.8% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.6% | 18.2% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.1% | 19.5% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.7% | 31.2% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.6% | 31.2% | 32.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 203 Bangladesh 33.2% compare
- 204 Madagascar 32.9% compare
- 205 Mali 32.2% compare
- 207 Uganda 31.9% compare
- 208 Saint Kitts and Nevis 31.9% compare
- 209 Solomon Islands 31.3% compare
More population data for Kenya
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.40 million people (2100)
- Population density 183.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 604,257 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.17 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.21 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya was 32.2% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 1950.
- How does Kenya rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Kenya ranks 206th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.