Kenya
Republic of Kenya
Population
55.75M
Area
580,367 km²
GDP
$124.50B
GDP Per Capita
$5,800
Pop. Density
96/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
ShKenyan shilling(KES)
Calling Code
+254
Timezone
UTC+03:00
Languages
English, Swahili
Driving Side
left
Demonym
Kenyan
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.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑366.0% since 2006Population
↑52.9% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 63.6 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography20
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
land: 569,140 sq km
water: 11,227 sq km
Area - comparative
five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries
border countries: Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km
Coastline
536 km
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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
Elevation
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 762 m
Natural resources
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
1,030 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Major aquifers
Ogaden-Juba Basin
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
Natural hazards
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
People & Society34
Population
male: 27,857,519
female: 27,894,198
Nationality
adjective: Kenyan
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.)
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.)
Age structure
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)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 58.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 18.2 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 21.1 years
female: 21.4 years
Population growth rate
2.15% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
25.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.3 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
379 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 68.6 years
female: 72.2 years
Total fertility rate
3.09 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.53 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
7.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.04 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.)
Tobacco use
male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.8% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.2% (2022 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 12.5% (2022)
men married by age 18: 1.8% (2022)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 28.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Government26
Country name
conventional long form
conventional short form
local long form
local short form
former
etymology
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi
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
Legal system
mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws
Constitution
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
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%
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
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
subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts
Political parties
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
consulate(s)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
International organization participation
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
Independence
12 December 1963 (from the UK)
National holiday
Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963)
Flag
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
National symbol(s)
lion
National color(s)
black, red, green, white
National coat of arms
National anthem(s)
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
history: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
National heritage
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)
Economy32
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $314.491 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $297.938 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$124.499 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 16.1% (2024 est.)
services: 55.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
sugarcane, milk, maize, bananas, tea, potatoes, cassava, cabbages, camel milk, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries
agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail
Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force
23.781 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
female: 16% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
38.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 31.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 3.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $30.924 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022: -$5.889 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$5.597 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022: $13.954 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $11.815 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Uganda 10%, USA 10%, UAE 8%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities
tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, tropical fruits (2023)
Imports
Imports 2022: $24.606 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $22.001 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 22%, UAE 14%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, palm oil, wheat, plastics, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $7.342 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $7.969 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy6
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 98%
electrification - rural areas: 65.6%
Electricity
consumption: 10.002 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 34 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 316 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
solar
wind
hydroelectricity
geothermal
biomass and waste
Coal
exports: 30 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 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
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Transportation5
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5Y
Airports
368 (2025)
Railways
standard gauge: 485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine
by type: oil tanker 4, other 22
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security7
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior: National Police Service, Kenya Coast Guard (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 25,000 active Kenya Defense Forces (2025)
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 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 deployments
400 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); approximately 1,400 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)
Military - note
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)
Transnational Issues1
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 284,886 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 9,800 (2024 est.)