Total population (thousands) in Kenya
Kenya: Total population (thousands) was 56,981 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
56,981 thousands
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
26th
of 233 countries
All-time high
56,981 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
11,154 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Kenya, 1970–2025
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 26th out of 233 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.
Total population (thousands) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,154 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 11,584 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 11,994 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 12,418 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 12,852 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 13,289 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 13,735 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 14,180 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 14,677 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 15,191 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 15,730 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 16,307 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 16,896 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 17,516 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 18,177 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 18,853 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 19,550 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 20,253 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 20,979 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 21,733 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 22,504 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 23,282 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 24,012 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 24,753 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 25,481 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 26,233 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 26,970 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 27,718 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 28,485 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 29,291 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 30,176 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 31,110 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 32,129 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 33,131 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 34,173 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 35,254 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 36,340 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 37,469 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 38,604 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 39,809 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 41,009 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 42,188 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 43,329 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 44,448 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 45,526 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 46,577 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 47,600 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 48,679 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 49,716 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 50,698 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 51,708 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 52,727 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 53,711 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 54,794 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 55,884 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 56,981 thousands | +2.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 56,981 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 4.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 56,981 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 3.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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 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 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 26th out of 233 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 · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release