Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya
Kenya: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 36.57 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
36.57 million people
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
18th
of 238 countries
All-time high
42.41 million people
in 2036
All-time low
799,998 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 36.57 million people for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in 2050.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya peaked at 42.41 million people in 2036 and was at its lowest, 799,998 people, in 1000.
That places Kenya 18th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 799,998 people | — |
| 1100 | 939,993 people | +17.5% |
| 1200 | 1.08 million people | +14.9% |
| 1300 | 1.22 million people | +13.0% |
| 1400 | 1.36 million people | +11.5% |
| 1500 | 1.50 million people | +10.2% |
| 1600 | 1.75 million people | +16.5% |
| 1700 | 1.99 million people | +13.9% |
| 1710 | 2.03 million people | +2.3% |
| 1720 | 2.06 million people | +1.1% |
| 1730 | 2.08 million people | +1.1% |
| 1740 | 2.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 1750 | 2.13 million people | +1.2% |
| 1760 | 2.16 million people | +1.3% |
| 1770 | 2.19 million people | +1.3% |
| 1780 | 2.22 million people | +1.4% |
| 1790 | 2.25 million people | +1.5% |
| 1800 | 2.29 million people | +1.6% |
| 1810 | 2.32 million people | +1.7% |
| 1820 | 2.37 million people | +1.8% |
| 1830 | 2.41 million people | +2.0% |
| 1840 | 2.46 million people | +2.1% |
| 1850 | 2.52 million people | +2.3% |
| 1860 | 2.59 million people | +2.5% |
| 1870 | 2.66 million people | +2.8% |
| 1880 | 2.74 million people | +3.2% |
| 1890 | 2.85 million people | +3.7% |
| 1900 | 2.97 million people | +4.4% |
| 1910 | 3.13 million people | +5.3% |
| 1920 | 3.34 million people | +6.8% |
| 1930 | 3.66 million people | +9.4% |
| 1940 | 4.21 million people | +15.1% |
| 1950 | 5.43 million people | +28.9% |
| 1951 | 5.53 million people | +1.9% |
| 1952 | 5.65 million people | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 5.77 million people | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 5.91 million people | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 6.06 million people | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 6.23 million people | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 6.42 million people | +3.0% |
| 1958 | 6.61 million people | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 6.83 million people | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 7.06 million people | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 7.31 million people | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 7.58 million people | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 7.87 million people | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 8.17 million people | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 8.49 million people | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 8.82 million people | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 9.16 million people | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 9.51 million people | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 9.86 million people | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 10.22 million people | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 10.54 million people | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 10.84 million people | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 11.14 million people | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 11.44 million people | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 11.73 million people | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 12.02 million people | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 12.34 million people | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 12.69 million people | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 13.07 million people | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 13.48 million people | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 13.92 million people | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 14.37 million people | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 14.85 million people | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 15.36 million people | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 15.88 million people | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 16.41 million people | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 16.96 million people | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 17.53 million people | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 18.12 million people | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 18.73 million people | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 19.32 million people | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 19.90 million people | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 20.48 million people | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 21.07 million people | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 21.66 million people | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 22.24 million people | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 22.83 million people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 23.43 million people | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 24.08 million people | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 24.68 million people | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 25.16 million people | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 25.50 million people | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 25.72 million people | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 25.89 million people | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 26.04 million people | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 26.21 million people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 26.47 million people | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 26.89 million people | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 27.53 million people | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 28.34 million people | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 29.13 million people | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 29.91 million people | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 30.67 million people | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 31.41 million people | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 32.15 million people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 32.90 million people | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 33.68 million people | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 34.45 million people | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 35.23 million people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 35.92 million people | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 36.57 million people | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 37.20 million people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 37.83 million people | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 38.43 million people | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 39.00 million people | +1.5% |
| 2026 | 39.53 million people | +1.4% |
| 2027 | 40.02 million people | +1.2% |
| 2028 | 40.47 million people | +1.1% |
| 2029 | 40.88 million people | +1.0% |
| 2030 | 41.25 million people | +0.9% |
| 2031 | 41.57 million people | +0.8% |
| 2032 | 41.84 million people | +0.7% |
| 2033 | 42.07 million people | +0.5% |
| 2034 | 42.24 million people | +0.4% |
| 2035 | 42.35 million people | +0.3% |
| 2036 | 42.41 million people | +0.1% |
| 2037 | 42.41 million people | -0.0% |
| 2038 | 42.34 million people | -0.1% |
| 2039 | 42.22 million people | -0.3% |
| 2040 | 42.03 million people | -0.4% |
| 2041 | 41.78 million people | -0.6% |
| 2042 | 41.46 million people | -0.8% |
| 2043 | 41.08 million people | -0.9% |
| 2044 | 40.63 million people | -1.1% |
| 2045 | 40.11 million people | -1.3% |
| 2046 | 39.52 million people | -1.5% |
| 2047 | 38.88 million people | -1.6% |
| 2048 | 38.17 million people | -1.8% |
| 2049 | 37.40 million people | -2.0% |
| 2050 | 36.57 million people | -2.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 36.57 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.39 million people, 6.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 36.57 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.62 million people, 3.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +28.9% | 4.21 million people | 5.43 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 799,998 people | 799,998 people | 799,998 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 939,993 people | 939,993 people | 939,993 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.22 million people | 1.22 million people | 1.22 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.36 million people | 1.36 million people | 1.36 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.50 million people | 1.50 million people | 1.50 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.75 million people | 1.75 million people | 1.75 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.99 million people | 1.99 million people | 1.99 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.03 million people | 2.03 million people | 2.03 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.06 million people | 2.06 million people | 2.06 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.08 million people | 2.08 million people | 2.08 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.10 million people | 2.10 million people | 2.10 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.13 million people | 2.13 million people | 2.13 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.16 million people | 2.16 million people | 2.16 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.19 million people | 2.19 million people | 2.19 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.22 million people | 2.22 million people | 2.22 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.25 million people | 2.25 million people | 2.25 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.29 million people | 2.29 million people | 2.29 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 2.32 million people | 2.32 million people | 2.32 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 2.37 million people | 2.37 million people | 2.37 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 2.41 million people | 2.41 million people | 2.41 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 2.46 million people | 2.46 million people | 2.46 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 2.52 million people | 2.52 million people | 2.52 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.59 million people | 2.59 million people | 2.59 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.66 million people | 2.66 million people | 2.66 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.74 million people | 2.74 million people | 2.74 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.85 million people | 2.85 million people | 2.85 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.97 million people | 2.97 million people | 2.97 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.13 million people | 3.13 million people | 3.13 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 3.34 million people | 3.34 million people | 3.34 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 3.66 million people | 3.66 million people | 3.66 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 4.21 million people | 4.21 million people | 4.21 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 6.04 million people | 5.43 million people | 6.83 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.38 million people | 7.06 million people | 9.86 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.60 million people | 10.22 million people | 13.07 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.69 million people | 13.48 million people | 18.12 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.37 million people | 18.73 million people | 24.08 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.01 million people | 24.68 million people | 27.53 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.79 million people | 28.34 million people | 35.23 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.59 million people | 35.92 million people | 40.88 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 42.07 million people | 41.25 million people | 42.41 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 40.10 million people | 37.40 million people | 42.03 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 36.57 million people | 36.57 million people | 36.57 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More population data for Kenya
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1094 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7363 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Kenya was 36.57 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 42.41 million people in 2036.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 799,998 people in 1000.
- How does Kenya rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Kenya ranks 18th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.