Kenya

Presidential RepublicPop55.8MGDP (PPP)$328.6BCI41Beta CP0.0→Beta

Kenya

⌘K

Overview

Background: Trade centers such as Mombasa have existed along the Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines, known as the Land of Zanj, since at least the 2nd century. These centers traded with the outside world, including China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Persia. By around the 9th century, the mix of Africans, Arabs, and Persians who lived and traded there became known as Swahili ("people of the coast") with a distinct language (KiSwahili) and culture. The Portuguese arrived in the 1490s and, using Mombasa as a base, sought to monopolize trade in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese were pushed out in the late 1600s by the combined forces of Oman and Pate, an island off the coast. In 1890, Germany and the UK divided up the region, with the UK taking the north and the Germans the south, including present-day Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. In 1895, the British established the East Africa Protectorate, which in 1920 was converted into a colony, and named Kenya after its highest mountain. Numerous political disputes between the colony and the UK led to the violent Mau Mau Uprising, which began in 1952, and the eventual declaration of independence in 1963.
Jomo KENYATTA, the founding president and an icon of the liberation struggle, led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when Vice President Daniel Arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982, after which time the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) changed the constitution to make itself the sole legal political party. MOI gave in to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in 1991, but the ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud. MOI stepped down in 2002 after fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA, the son of the founding president, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.

Opposition candidate Raila ODINGA challenged KIBAKI's reelection in 2007 on the grounds of widespread vote rigging, leading to two months of ethnic violence that caused more than 1,100 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands. African Union-sponsored mediation resulted in a power-sharing accord that brought ODINGA into the government as prime minister and outlined a reform agenda. In 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly voted to adopt a new constitution that eliminated the prime minister, introduced additional checks and balances to executive power, and devolved power and resources to 47 newly created counties. Uhuru KENYATTA won the first presidential election under the new constitution in 2013. He won a second and final term in office in 2017 after a contentious repeat election. In 2022, William RUTO won a close presidential election; he assumed the office the following month after the Kenyan Supreme Court upheld the victory.

Geography

Area

Land: 569,140 sq km
Water: 11,227 sq km
Total: 580,367 sq km

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Land Use

Other: 44% (2023 est.)
Forest: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 49.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Coastline: 536 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Mean elevation: 762 m

Irrigated land: 1,030 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin
Map references: Africa

Land Boundaries

Total: 3,457 km
Border countries: Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano
Geography note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
Natural resources: limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Area comparative: five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Major Lakes (Area Sq Km)

Salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

People & Society

Languages

Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Major language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)

Religions: Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 25.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 21.1 years
Total: 21.5 years (2025 est.)
Female: 21.4 years

Population

Male: 27,857,519
Total: 55,751,717 (2025 est.)
Female: 27,894,198

Nationality

Noun: Kenyan(s)
Adjective: Kenyan

Tobacco Use

Male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Total: 8.6% (2025 est.)
Female: 1.9% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 35.8% (male 10,464,384/female 10,366,997)
15 64 years: 60.9% (male 17,731,068/female 17,723,012)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 896,348/female 1,064,569)

Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.)

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 1.8% (2022)
Women married BY age 15: 2.2% (2022)
Women married BY age 18: 12.5% (2022)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 64 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 58.5 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 18.2 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 86.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 46.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 13.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 28.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 2.15% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.53 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 68.6 years
Female: 72.2 years
Total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 379 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 60.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 39.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.3 years (2014 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 53.2% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.8% (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is at the center

meaning: black stands for the majority population, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom

Capital

Name: Nairobi
Etymology: the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
Citizenship BY descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years

Constitution

History: current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010
Amendment process: amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya’s counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president

Country Name

Former: British East Africa
Etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the mountain's name may derive from the Kikuyu word kere nyaga, or "white mountain"
Local long form: Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)
Local short form: Kenya
Conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
Conventional short form: Kenya

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from the UK)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges)
Subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts
Judge selection and term of office: chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly; other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president; chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first; other judges serve until age 70

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly
Chief of state: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Election results: 2022: William RUTO elected president in first round; percent of vote - William RUTO (UDA) 50.5%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 48.9%, other 0.6%
Head of government: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Most recent election date: 9 August 2022
Election/appointment process: president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by majority vote nationwide and at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties; failure to meet these thresholds requires a runoff between the top two candidates
Expected date of next election: 10 August 2027

National holiday: Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963)
National color(s): black, red, green, white

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 8(5 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Lake Turkana National Parks (n); Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (n); Lamu Old Town (c); Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c); Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c); Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n); Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c); The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi (c)

Political parties: Azimio La Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party
Amani National Congress or ANC
Chama Cha Kazi or CCK
Democratic Action Party or DAP-K
Democratic Party or DP
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya or FORD-Kenya
Grand Dream Development Party or GDDP
Jubilee Party or JP
Kenya African National Union or KANU
Kenya Kwanza coalition
Kenya Union Party or KUP
Maendeleo Chap Chap Party or MCC
Movement for Democracy and Growth or MDG
National Agenda Party or NAP-K
National Ordinary People Empowerment Union or NOPEU
Orange Democratic Movement or ODM
Pamoja African Alliance or PAA]
The Service Party or TSP
United Democratic Alliance or UDA
United Democratic Movement or UDM
United Democratic Party or UDP
United Party of Independent Alliance or UPIA
United Progressive Alliance or UPA
Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya or WDM-K

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: Parliament of Kenya
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (O God of All Creation)
History: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
Lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE

National symbol(s): lion
National coat of arms: the two lions symbolize protection as they hold a traditional East African shield and spears in defense of freedom and unity; the shield features the national colors: black for the people, green for agriculture and natural resources, red for the struggle for freedom, and white for unity and peace; on the shield, a rooster greets the new day, and the axe represents both authority and the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) that led the country to independence; at the base of the shield is Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak; the scroll has the Swahili word Harambee, meaning “all for one” or “pulling together”
Administrative divisions: 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: National Assembly
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 350 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 8/9/2022
Expected date of next election: August 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 23.4%
Parties elected and seats per party: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) (145); Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) (86); Jubilee Party (JP) (28); Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya (WDM-K) (26); Others (19); Other (45)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 68 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 8/9/2022
Expected date of next election: August 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Parties elected and seats per party: Kenya Kwanza Alliance (33); Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party (32); Other (1)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 462-3829
Chancery: 2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
Consulate(s): New York
Chief of mission: Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)
Email address and website: information@kenyaembassydc.org

https://kenyaembassydc.org/#

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [254] (20) 363-6157
Embassy: P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi
Telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000
Mailing address: 8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC  20521-8900
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan M. BURNS (since 25 August 2025)
Email address and website: kenya_acs@state.gov

https://ke.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCT, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

KENYA · LOWER HOUSE

National Assembly

350 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

350

Majority line

176

Largest party

Orange Democratic Movement

Parties

All political parties28 parties · 350 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

KENYA · UPPER HOUSE

Senate

68 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Orange Democratic Movement

Parties

All political parties15 parties · 68 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

WR
William Ruto
- Head of StateSince 2022
- Head of GovernmentSince 2022

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $20.202 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $30.924 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $20.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2021: $11.815 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $13.954 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $12.626 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $27.8B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2021: $22.001 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $24.606 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $22.046 billion (2023 est.)

Industries: agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail
Labor force: 23.781 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 3.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 106.451 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 109.638 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 117.866 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 139.846 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 134.822 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $31.451 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy; strong agriculture sector with emerging services and tourism industries; IMF program to address current account and debt service challenges; business-friendly policies foster infrastructure investment, digital innovation and public-private partnerships; vulnerable to climate change-induced droughts

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 5.4%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Uganda 10%, USA 10%, UAE 8%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 6% (2023)
Imports partners: China 22%, UAE 14%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $6,644

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.7%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: sugarcane, milk, maize, bananas, tea, potatoes, cassava, cabbages, camel milk, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Exports commodities: tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, tropical fruits (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, palm oil, wheat, plastics, garments (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$1.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2021: -$5.597 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$5.889 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$4.317 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $124.499 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 75.5% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 11.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.7% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 11.1% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -19.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 38.6% (2021 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.5%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $328.632 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $297.938 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $314.491 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $328.632 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Female: 16% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $7.969 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $7.342 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $10.067 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 16.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 55.9% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 21.3% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 2.9% (2021 est.)
Highest 10%: 31.8% (2021 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2021: 38.7 (2021 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 30 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 113,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 34 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 316 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 10.002 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 3.824 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 3.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 65.6%
Electrification urban areas: 98%
Electrification total population: 76% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 5.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Geothermal: 47.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 10.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 20.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 35% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: about a half-dozen large, privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; many private radio stations broadcast nationally, with over 100 private and non-profit regional stations broadcasting in local languages; TV transmissions of all major international broadcasters available, mostly via paid subscriptions (2019)
Internet country code: .ke

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 68,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 71.4 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 1.32 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 2
Medium: 1
Key ports: Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa
Very small: 1
Total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 368 (2025)

Railways

Total: 3,819 km (2018)
Narrow gauge: 3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge
Standard gauge: 485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge

Merchant Marine

Total: 26 (2023)
BY type: oil tanker 4, other 22

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5Y

Environment

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Land Use

Other: 44% (2023 est.)
Forest: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 49.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 32.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 127.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 334.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 1,241 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.595 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.9% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes and from use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water-hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 495 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 303 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 3.234 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 19.023 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3.316 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 15.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 12.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 30.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military & Security

Military note: the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) are responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty and territory and assisting civil authorities in responding to emergency, disaster, or political unrest as requested; the KDF's chief security concerns include regional disputes and instability, maritime crime and piracy, and the threat posed by the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorist group, which has conducted attacks inside Kenya; it has conducted operations in neighboring Somalia since 2011 and taken part in numerous regional peacekeeping and security missions; the KDF is a leading member of the Africa Standby Force; it participates in multinational exercises, and has ties to a variety of foreign militaries, including those of France, the UK, and the US

the Kenya Military Forces were created following independence in 1963; the current KDF was established and its composition laid out in the 2010 constitution; it is governed by the Kenya Defense Forces Act of 2012; the Army traces its origins back to the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Britain's East Africa possessions from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during both World Wars (2025)
Military deployments: 400 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); approximately 1,400 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.0%

Military expenditures 2020: 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Kenya Defense Forces (KDF): Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force

Ministry of Interior: National Police Service, Kenya Coast Guard (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams); 7-9 year service obligations (2026)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the KDF's inventory is a mix of older, donated/secondhand, and some modern weapon systems from a variety of sources; major suppliers have included China, France, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the US; in 2023, the Kenyan Government unveiled a five-year defense spending plan with a focus on upgraded military equipment, including aerial surveillance drones, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active Kenya Defense Forces (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab

Space

Space launch site(s): Luigi Broglio Space Center (aka Malindi Space Center, Malindi Station, San Marco Satellite Launching and Tracking Station; Kilifi County; over 20 sounding rockets and nine satellites launched from the site, 1967-1989); in 2020, Kenya concluded a new deal with Italy to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future (2025)
Space agency/agencies: Kenya Space Agency (KSA; established 2017) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space strategy focused on acquiring and applying space technologies for agriculture, communications, disaster and resource management, security, urban planning, and weather monitoring; jointly develops and builds nanosatellites with foreign partners; operates satellites; researching and developing satellite payloads and imagery data analysis capabilities; has cooperated on space issues with China, Japan, India, Italy, and the US, as well as a variety of African partners; member of the African Space Agency (2025)
Key space program milestones: 1970 - first satellite (US-made Uhura) launched from Kenya

2008 - established country's first satellite ground station

2018 - first remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube nanosatellite (1KUNS-PF) produced jointly with Japan and Italy and deployed from the International Space Station

2023 - first domestically designed RS satellite (TAIFA-1) built by Bulgaria and launched by US

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 284,886 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 823,904 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 9,800 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index41.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4108 / 190−6.02024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.43as of 2024-Q472 / 170+0.092024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (50/100)as of 2024-Q4—−4.52024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (56/100)as of 2024—2024

Human Development Index0.601as of 2022—2022

Corruption Perceptions Index31 / 100as of 2023126 / 1802023

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Kenya — vintage 2026-Q1: Kenya factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/kenya

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Kenya

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