Total population in Kenya
Kenya: Total population was 56,981 thousands in 2025. β² Rising
Total population in Kenya, 1970β2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Kenya stood at 56,981 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Kenya peaked at 56,981 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11,154 thousands, in 1970.
That places Kenya 25th out of 230 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,107 thousands | 11,154 thousands | 15,191 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 18,599 thousands | 15,730 thousands | 21,733 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 25,873 thousands | 22,504 thousands | 29,291 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 34,819 thousands | 30,176 thousands | 39,809 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,977 thousands | 41,009 thousands | 50,698 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 54,301 thousands | 51,708 thousands | 56,981 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More population data for Kenya
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.038 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.40 million (2100)
- Population density 183.07 (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.038 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 3.17 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 604,257 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 3.17 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 3.17 (2024)
- Natural population growth 1.99 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 3.21 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Kenya?
- Total population in Kenya was 56,981 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 56,981 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,154 thousands in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for total population?
- Kenya ranks 25th out of 230 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release