Urban and rural population in Kenya
Kenya: Urban and rural population was 18.53 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.53 million
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
45th
of 236 countries
All-time high
18.53 million
in 2025
All-time low
341,702
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Kenya, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 18.53 million for urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Kenya peaked at 18.53 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 341,702, in 1950.
Kenya ranks 45th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 341,702 | — |
| 1951 | 364,135 | +6.6% |
| 1952 | 387,849 | +6.5% |
| 1953 | 412,642 | +6.4% |
| 1954 | 438,767 | +6.3% |
| 1955 | 466,530 | +6.3% |
| 1956 | 496,050 | +6.3% |
| 1957 | 527,537 | +6.3% |
| 1958 | 560,614 | +6.3% |
| 1959 | 595,758 | +6.3% |
| 1960 | 633,595 | +6.4% |
| 1961 | 673,843 | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 716,569 | +6.3% |
| 1963 | 760,585 | +6.1% |
| 1964 | 805,133 | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 851,351 | +5.7% |
| 1966 | 900,091 | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 952,571 | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 1.01 million | +6.1% |
| 1969 | 1.08 million | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 1.15 million | +7.2% |
| 1971 | 1.25 million | +8.3% |
| 1972 | 1.36 million | +9.0% |
| 1973 | 1.49 million | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 1.63 million | +9.5% |
| 1975 | 1.78 million | +9.2% |
| 1976 | 1.93 million | +8.6% |
| 1977 | 2.09 million | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 2.25 million | +7.4% |
| 1979 | 2.39 million | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 2.54 million | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 2.68 million | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 2.83 million | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 2.99 million | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 3.15 million | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 3.32 million | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 3.49 million | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 3.65 million | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 3.82 million | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 4.00 million | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 4.17 million | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 4.33 million | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 4.48 million | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 4.63 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 4.79 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 4.94 million | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 5.10 million | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 5.27 million | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 5.45 million | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 5.66 million | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 5.96 million | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 6.46 million | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 7.13 million | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 7.93 million | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 8.82 million | +11.3% |
| 2005 | 9.76 million | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 10.70 million | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 11.57 million | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 12.32 million | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 12.87 million | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 13.26 million | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 13.63 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 13.98 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 14.32 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 14.64 million | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 14.94 million | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 15.24 million | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 15.52 million | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 15.76 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 15.97 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 16.30 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 16.65 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 17.05 million | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 17.51 million | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 18.00 million | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 18.53 million | +3.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 18.53 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 18.53 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 459,158 | 341,702 | 595,758 | 10 |
| 1960s | 837,950 | 633,595 | 1.08 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.73 million | 1.15 million | 2.39 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.25 million | 2.54 million | 4.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.88 million | 4.17 million | 5.66 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.35 million | 5.96 million | 12.87 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.73 million | 13.26 million | 15.97 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.34 million | 16.30 million | 18.53 million | 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)
- Population growth rate -0.038 (2100)
- Population density 183.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.40 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Kenya?
- Urban and rural population in Kenya was 18.53 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 18.53 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 341,702 in 1950.
- How does Kenya rank for urban and rural population?
- Kenya ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).