The Demographics of Kenya is monitored by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Kenya is a multi-ethnic state in East Africa. Its total population was at 47,558,296 as of the 2019 census.
A national census was conducted in 1999, although the results were never released. A new census was undertaken in 2009, but turned out to be controversial, as the questions about ethnic affiliation seemed inappropriate after the ethnic violence of the previous year.Kenya begins contentious census BBC News, 24 August 2009. Preliminary results of the census were published in 2010.Kenya defends tribal census figures BBC News, 31 August 2010.
Kenya's population was reported as 47.6 million during the 2019 census compared to 38.6 million inhabitants 2009, 30.7 million in 1999, 21.4 million in 1989, and 15.3 million in 1979. This was an increase of a factor of 2.5 over 30 years, or an average growth rate of more than 3 percent per year. The population growth rate has been reported as reduced during the 2000s, and was estimated at 2.7 percent (as of 2010), resulting in an estimate of 46.5 million in 2016. As of 2024 Kenya has 770,255 refugees and asylum seekers.
Population
According to , the total population was in compared to 6,077,000 in 1950, and around 1,700,000 in 1900. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 42.5%, 54.9% between the ages of 15 and 65, and 2.7% was 65 years or older. Worldometers estimates the total population at 48,466,928 inhabitants, a 29th global rank. YearTotal populationPopulation percentage aged 0–14 aged 15–64 aged 65+ 19506 077 000 19556 980 000 19608 105 000 19659 505 000 197011 252 000 197513 486 000 198016 268 000 198519 655 000 199023 447 000 199527 426 000 200031 254 000 200535 615 000 201040 513 000201947 564 296
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 24.VIII.2009): Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 19 192 458 19 417 639 38 610 097 100 0–4 3 000 439 2 938 867 5 939 306 15.38 5–9 2 832 669 2 765 047 5 597 716 14.50 10–14 2 565 313 2 469 542 5 034 855 13.04 15–19 2 123 653 2 045 890 4 169 543 10.80 20–24 1 754 105 2 020 998 3 775 103 9.78 25–29 1 529 116 1 672 110 3 201 226 8.29 30–34 1 257 035 1 262 471 2 519 506 6.53 35–39 1 004 361 1 004 271 2 008 632 5.20 40–44 743 594 732 575 1 476 169 3.82 45–49 635 276 637 469 1 272 745 3.30 50–54 478 346 477 860 956 206 2.48 55–59 359 466 352 497 711 953 1.84 60–64 295 197 298 581 593 778 1.54 65-69 183 151 207 612 390 763 1.01 70-74 160 301 179 000 339 301 0.88 75-79 99 833 118 675 218 508 0.57 80+ 159 125 224 576 383 701 0.99Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 8 398 421 8 173 456 16 571 877 42.92 15–64 10 191 627 10 514 320 20 705 947 53.63 65+ 602 410 729 863 1 332 273 3.45 Unknown 11 478 9 608 21 086 0.05
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 24.VIII.2019) (The figure for both sexes includes intersex persons.): Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 23 544 372 24 011 270 47 557 157 100 0–4 3 005 496 2 985 484 5 991 128 12.60 5–9 3 116 101 3 084 445 6 200 719 13.04 10–14 3 209 544 3 136 149 6 345 864 13.34 15–19 2 686 476 2 599 905 5 286 535 11.12 20–24 2 112 777 2 335 052 4 448 037 9.35 25–29 1 839 256 2 014 546 3 853 955 8.10 30–34 1 698 354 1 871 625 3 570 133 7.51 35–39 1 347 962 1 301 624 2 649 679 5.57 40–44 1 156 932 1 101 867 2 258 861 4.75 45–49 916 166 869 740 1 785 957 3.76 50–54 662 864 645 463 1 308 371 2.75 55–59 546 852 571 000 1 117 878 2.35 60–64 419 362 450 447 869 837 1.83 65-69 311 281 346 756 658 052 1.38 70-74 235 929 278 507 514 453 1.08 75-79 119 265 163 799 283 071 0.60 80-84 82 909 120 944 203 856 0.43 85-89 43 948 69 635 113 587 0.24 90-94 19 225 35 866 55 095 0.12 95-99 9 768 18 233 28 001 0.06 100+ 3 905 10 183 14 088 0.03Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 9 331 141 9 206 078 18 537 711 38.98 15–64 13 387 001 13 761 269 27 149 243 57.09 65+ 826 230 1 043 923 1 870 203 3.93
Population by province in 2019 census
Province2019 Kenya (country total) 47,564,296 Nairobi (capital city) 4,397,073 Central 5,482,239 Coast 4,329,474 Eastern 6,821,049 North Eastern 2,490,073 Nyanza 6,269,579 Rift valley 12,752,966 Western 5,021,843
UN population projections Numbers are in thousands. UN medium variant projections 2015 46,332 2020 52,563 2025 59,054 2030 65,928 2035 73,257 2040 80,975 2045 88,907 2050 96,887
Vital statistics
United Nations estimates
Registration of vital events is in Kenya not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. PeriodPopulation per yearLive births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR*CDR*NC*TFR*IMR*Life expectancy(in years)19505,712,000285,000167,000118,00049.528.920.67.33162.238.9019515,836,000299,000166,000133,00050.728.122.67.36161.239.0919525,975,000313,000168,000146,00051.827.824.17.39159.438.9519536,122,000328,000163,000165,00052.826.326.57.42152.240.3219546,282,000342,000159,000183,00053.725.028.77.45145.341.6919556,461,000356,000156,000200,00054.323.830.57.48138.942.9619566,657,000372,000154,000219,00055.022.732.37.53132.944.1219576,871,000388,000149,000239,00055.521.334.27.59127.345.8319587,104,000403,000148,000255,00055.620.435.27.60122.246.8819597,343,000414,000146,000268,00055.419.535.87.62117.547.7719607,609,000428,000145,000283,00055.218.636.57.63113.248.6819617,894,000446,000144,000302,00055.517.937.67.72109.449.5319628,201,000465,000144,000321,00055.617.238.47.80106.050.2219638,526,000482,000145,000338,00055.516.638.87.86103.150.8119648,868,000500,000146,000354,00055.216.139.17.92100.651.3319659,227,000521,000148,000373,00055.315.739.68.0398.751.7019669,608,000539,000150,000388,00054.915.339.68.0697.052.1019679,997,000555,000153,000402,00054.415.039.48.0595.552.46196810,405,000572,000155,000417,00053.814.639.38.0494.052.78196910,823,000589,000157,000433,00053.414.239.28.0392.453.17197011,256,000606,000158,000447,00052.713.838.98.0290.853.58197111,690,000625,000159,000466,00052.413.339.18.0089.154.26197212,107,000639,000158,000481,00051.712.838.97.9887.255.01197312,539,000652,000158,000495,00051.012.338.77.9485.355.68197412,982,000668,000160,000507,00050.412.138.37.9183.355.63197513,426,000685,000162,000523,00050.011.838.27.8881.255.83197613,878,000704,000164,000540,00049.811.638.27.8479.055.90197714,327,000722,000164,000559,00049.411.238.27.8076.756.49197814,828,000744,000164,000580,00049.210.838.47.7574.456.94197915,347,000766,000163,000604,00049.010.438.67.6872.157.72198015,894,000787,000162,000626,00048.610.038.67.6070.158.50198116,480,000816,000151,000665,00048.59.039.57.5168.261.17198217,092,000838,000156,000683,00048.18.939.17.4066.560.95198317,731,000860,000159,000701,00047.58.838.77.2664.961.01198418,408,000888,000164,000724,00047.38.838.67.1263.760.80198519,099,000913,000170,000743,00046.98.838.16.9862.860.58198619,806,000941,000178,000763,00046.68.837.86.8562.460.22198720,516,000966,000185,000781,00046.28.837.36.6862.460.04198821,248,000982,000195,000788,00045.49.036.46.5162.959.54198922,004,000998,000205,000793,00044.59.235.46.3263.959.04199022,772,0001,008,000216,000793,00043.59.334.26.1365.258.61199123,553,0001,019,000228,000791,00042.59.533.05.9466.858.01199224,284,0001,029,000242,000787,00041.79.831.95.7568.357.26199325,028,0001,044,000255,000789,00041.110.031.05.5769.456.62199425,756,0001,062,000266,000796,00040.610.230.45.4570.156.27199526,512,0001,088,000280,000809,00040.410.430.05.3770.155.62199627,245,0001,112,000292,000821,00040.210.529.75.3169.755.16199727,987,0001,139,000303,000836,00040.110.729.45.2668.754.82199828,742,0001,174,000313,000861,00040.210.729.55.2567.454.53199929,533,0001,199,000321,000878,00040.010.129.35.1865.654.50200030,398,0001,232,000329,000903,00039.99.929.35.1463.654.41200131,306,0001,271,000336,000934,00040.09.729.45.0961.354.51200232,295,0001,298,000339,000959,00039.69.529.35.0258.954.99200333,265,0001,318,000337,000981,00039.09.229.14.9156.555.60200434,270,0001,347,000334,0001,013,00038.78.929.14.8354.056.36200535,314,0001,380,000328,0001,052,00038.58.629.44.7851.357.34200636,372,0001,414,000323,0001,091,00038.58.330.24.7548.858.22200737,479,0001,450,000322,0001,128,00038.38.130.24.7246.558.87200838,595,0001,471,000317,0001,154,00037.97.930.04.6643.859.61200939,779,0001,476,000312,0001,164,00037.27.629.54.5741.760.37201040,950,0001,471,000314,0001,157,00036.37.428.84.4540.260.65201142,086,0001,461,000317,0001,144,00035.07.327.74.2839.061.05201243,185,0001,451,000326,0001,125,00033.77.226.54.1238.161.12201344,267,0001,440,000332,0001,008,00032.47.225.33.9637.061.39201445,318,0001,436,000335,0001,101,00031.57.124.43.8436.061.82201546,346,0001,452,000345,0001,107,00030.97.123.83.7734.961.89201647,357,0001,457,000352,0001,105,00030.27.223.03.6933.862.16201748,432,0001,458,000357,0001,100,00029.67.122.53.6133.062.48201849,464,0001,460,000365,0001,094,00029.07.221.93.5432.062.68201947,564,2961,451,000372,0001,079,00028.27.320.93.4331.162.94202051,460,0001,456,000388,0001,068,00027.87.919.83.3630.462.68202153,219,0001,469,000432,000984,00027.68.119.53.3131.161.2202254,252,0001,483,000391,0001,082,00027.37.220.13.2630.263.3202355,339,000 1,500,000 399,000 1,091,00027.17.219.93.2129.763.6202427.07.219.83.17202526.87.119.63.12 * CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)
Demographic and Health Surveys Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
Year Total Urban Rural CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR 1977 8.1 1984 7.7 1989 6.7 4.5 7.1 1993 35.8 5.40 (3.4) 35.1 3.44 (2.5) 35.9 5.80 (3.7) 1998 34.6 4.70 (3.5) 33.6 3.12 (2.6) 34.7 5.16 (3.8) 2003 37.5 4.9 (3.6) 35.3 3.3 (2.6) 38.1 5.4 (3.9) 2008–2009 (census) 34,8 4.6 (3.4) 32.5 2.9 (2.5) 35.3 5.2 (3.7) 2014 30.5 3.9 (3.0) 31.0 3.1 (2.6) 30.3 4.5 (3.4) 2022 27.7 3.4 (2.9) 30.1 2.7 (2.5) 26.6 4.0 (3.3)
Fertility data as of 2014 (DHS Program):
Region Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 Coast 4.3 6.6 5.5 North Eastern 6.4 12.0 7.1 Eastern 3.4 4.6 4.7 Central 2.8 4.8 3.7 Rift Valley 4.5 7.0 5.5 Western 4.7 6.7 6.1 Nyanza 4.3 5.9 5.8 Nairobi 2.7 6.8 3.1
Ethnic groups Kenya has a very diverse population that includes most major ethnic, racial and linguistic groups found in Africa. Bantu, Cushitic and Nilotic populations together constitute around 99% of the nation's inhabitants. People from Asian or European heritage living in Kenya are estimated at around 0.3% of the population.
Bantus are the single largest population division in Kenya. Most Bantu are farmers. Some of the prominent Bantu groups in Kenya include the Kikuyu, the Kamba, the Luhya, the Kisii, the Meru, and the Mijikenda.
In Kenya's last colonial census of 1962, population groups residing in the territory included European, African and Asian individuals. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenya had a population of 47,564,296 by 2019. The largest native ethnic groups were the Kikuyu (8,148,668), Luhya (6,820,000), Kalenjin (6,358,113), Luo (5,066,966), Kamba (4,663,910), Somalis (2,780,502), Kisii (2,703,235), Mijikenda (2,488,691), Meru (1,975,869), Maasai (1,189,522), and Turkana (1,016,174). Foreign-rooted populations included Asians (90,527), Europeans (42,868) with Kenyan citizenship, 26,753 without, and Kenyan Arabs (59,021). The number of ethnic categories and sub-categories recorded in the census has changed significantly over time, expanding from 42 in 1969 to more than 120 in 2019.
Bantu peoples
Bantus are the single largest population division in Kenya. The term Bantu denotes widely dispersed but related peoples that speak south-central Niger–Congo languages. Originally from Cameroon-Nigeria border regions, Bantus began a millennium-long series of migrations referred to as the Bantu expansion that first brought them south into East Africa about 2,000 years ago.