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
Latest (2025)
32.2%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
206th
of 236 countries
All-time high
32.2%
in 2025
All-time low
5.9%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
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.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.9% | — |
| 1951 | 6.2% | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 6.4% | +4.0% |
| 1953 | 6.7% | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 6.9% | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 7.1% | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 7.4% | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 7.6% | +3.0% |
| 1958 | 7.8% | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 8.0% | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 8.2% | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 8.4% | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 8.6% | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 8.8% | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 9.1% | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 9.3% | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 9.4% | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 9.6% | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 9.8% | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 10.1% | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 10.6% | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 11.2% | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 11.8% | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 12.5% | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 13.2% | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 13.9% | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 14.5% | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 15.0% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 15.5% | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 15.8% | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 16.2% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 16.5% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 16.8% | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 17.0% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 17.3% | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 17.5% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 17.7% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 17.9% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 18.1% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 18.2% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 18.3% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 18.4% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 18.4% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 18.5% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 18.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 18.7% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 18.8% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.9% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 19.0% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 19.5% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 20.4% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 21.9% | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 23.6% | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 25.4% | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 27.3% | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 30.4% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 31.4% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 31.9% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 31.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 31.9% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 31.8% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 31.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 31.7% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 31.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 31.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 31.4% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 31.2% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 31.2% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 31.3% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 31.4% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 31.6% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 31.9% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 32.2% | +1.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 32.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 32.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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 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 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.