Demographics of Kenya

The demographics of Kenya show that the country has one of the highest population growth rates in the world. The total population is estimated at 48,245,079 inhabitants as of January 2017, compared to only 6,077,000 in 1950.

The demographics of Kenya show that the country’s population growth rate stands at 2.46%. During 2016 Kenya population is estimated to be increased by 1,171,143 inhabitants and reach 48,759,235 in January 2017.

Demographics of Kenya – Population growth rate from 1961 to 2015

The proportion of children below the age of 15 is 42.4%, 18.8% is between 15 and 24 years of age, 32.4% is between 25 and 54 years of age, 3.6% is between 55 and 64 years of age, while 2.7% is 65 years or older.

Kenya has a diverse population, 99% of the population comprises of African groups, the Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic people and the remaining 1% consists of non-African groups, Arab, Asian and European. See Kenya people for more on the country’s ethnic groups.

Demographics of Kenya Facts and Figures

Population44,037,656 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
note:
estimates explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant
mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected
Age structure0-14 years: 42.4% (male 9,357,084/female 9,299,586)
15-24 years: 18.8% (male 4,148,153/female 4,147,896)
25-54 years: 32.4% (male 7,210,891/female 7,070,217)
55-64 years: 3.6% (male 719,374/female 876,458)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 529,873/female 678,124) (2013 est.)
Median agetotal: 18.9 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate2.27% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Ethnic groupsKikuyu
22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%,
other African 15%, non-African (Arab, Asian and European) 1%
LanguagesEnglish (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
ReligionsChristian
82.5% (Protestant 47.4%, Catholic 23.3%, other 11.8%), Muslim 11.1%,
Traditionalists 1.6%, other 1.7%, none 2.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2009
census)
Birth rate30.08 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Death rate7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Net migration rate-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Urbanizationurban population: 22% of total population (2010)rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratioat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate360 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 29
Infant mortality ratetotal: 42.18 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 51
male: 46.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birthtotal population: 63.29 years
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 61.84 years
female: 64.77 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate3.76 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Health expenditures4.8% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 149
Physicians density0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2002)
Hospital bed density1.4 beds/1,000 population
Drinking water sourceimproved:
urban: 82% of population
rural: 52% of population
total: 59% of population
unimproved:
urban: 18% of population
rural: 48% of population
total: 41% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility accessimproved:urban: 32% of populationrural: 32% of populationtotal: 32% of populationunimproved:
urban: 68% of populationrural: 68% of populationtotal: 68% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate6.3% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS1.5 million (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS – deaths80,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Major infectious diseasesdegree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate4.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171
Children under the age of 5 years underweight16.4% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
Education expenditures6.7% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
Literacydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 90.6%
female: 84.2% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2009)

Source: CIA World Factbook.

Kenyan Population Statistics by Year

The demographics of Kenya data below shows the country’s population by year

YearTotal population (x 1000)Population aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%)
19506 07739.856.33.9
19556 98042.853.43.8
19608 10546.449.93.7
19659 50548.448.03.6
197011 25249.147.53.4
197513 48649.647.13.3
198016 26850.047.13.0
198519 65550.047.22.8
199023 44749.048.32.7
199527 42646.550.82.7
200031 25444.352.92.8
200535 61542.754.52.8
201040 51342.554.92.7
Source: World Population Prospects.

Population by province

According to the 2009 census, the country’s population by province was as follows: Nairobi (the capital of Kenya) 3,138,369, Central 4,383,743, Coast 3,325,307, Eastern 5,668,123, North Eastern 2,310,757, Nyanza 5,442,711, Rift Valley 10,006,805, Western 4,334,282

Population by census

YearPopulation
19628,636,300
196910,942,705
197915,327,061
198921,448,774
199928,686,607
200938,610,097

Source: 2009 census. http://www.knbs.or.ke/Census%20Results/KNBS%20Brochure.pdf

UN population projections

YearMedium variant projections (x 1000)
201546,332
202052,563
202559,054
203065,928
203573,257
204080,975
204588,907
205096,887
Source: World Population Prospects.

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