Kenya

Population

56.4M

Rank #26

Source: World Bank

Capital

Nairobi

Source: REST Countries

Region

Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

Source: REST Countries

GDP (Nominal)

$120.34B

Rank #65

Source: World Bank

Land Area

580.4K km²

Rank #48

Source: REST Countries

Life Expectancy

63.646 yrs

Source: World Bank

Historical Trends

Population Trend (5-Year)

Source: World Bank

GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)

Source: World Bank

Geography

Area: 580,367 km²

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

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: mean elevation: 762 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural Hazards: recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasonsvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano

Environmental Issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; water shortage and degraded water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria;...

Land Use: agricultural land: 48.1% (2011 est.) forest: 6.1% (2011 est.) other: 45.8% (2011 est.)

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...

Natural Resources

limestonesoda ashsaltgemstonesfluorsparzincdiatomitegypsumwildlifehydropower

People & Society

Fertility Rate

3.21

Population

56.4M

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%)

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%)

Economy

GDP per Capita

$2,132.435

GDP per Capita PPP

6,644.131
(2024)

GNI per Capita

2,090
(2024)

Gini Index

37.7
(2022)

Unemployment

5.487%
(2024)

Inflation

4.49%
(2024)

Public Debt

Not Available

Energy

Electricity Access

76.2%
(2023)

Renewable Energy

67.7%
(2021)

CO₂ Emissions

21.639 Mt
(2024)

Energy Intensity

4.76 MJ/$
(2021)

Renewable Electricity

78.082%
(2021)

Environment

Forest Coverage

6.217% of land
(2023)

Communications

Internet Users

34.976%
(2024)

Mobile Penetration

120.612%
(2023)

Broadband Subscribers

2.389%
(2023)

Transportation

Air Transport Freight

288.621 M ton-km
(2023)

Container Port Traffic

1,450,000 TEU
(2022)

Airports

69,323

Rail Lines

N/A

Roads Total

161,451 km(©IRF)

Military

Military Forces

Kenya Defence Forces: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force note: the National Police Service includes a paramilitary General Service Unit

Personnel Strength

the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) are comprised of approximately 24,000 personnel (20,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 2,500 Air Force); 5,000 Police General Services Unit

Military Expenditure (USD)

$1.23B

Military Expenditure (% of GDP)

1.00%

Military Expenditure History

1.3% of GDP (2019) 1.2% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016) 1.3% of GDP (2015)

Deployments

3,600 Somalia (AMISOM) (2020)

Equipment & Inventories

the KDF's inventory traditionally carried mostly older or second-hand Western weapons systems, particularly from France, the UK, and the US; however, since the 2000s it has sought to modernize and...

Service Age & Obligation

18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year reenlistments; applicants must be...

Education

Pre-Primary Enrollment

65.144%
(2019)

Primary Enrollment

98.248%
(2023)

Secondary Enrollment

84.308%
(2023)

Tertiary Enrollment

10.419%
(2024)

Education Spending

4.022% of GDP
(2024)

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

30.651:1
(2015)

Health

Physicians per 1,000

0.289
(2023)

Safe Water Access

65.597%
(2024)

Safe Drinking Water

Not Available

Under-5 Mortality

39.9 per 1,000
(2023)

Maternal Mortality (World Bank)

15.829 per 100,000
(2021)

Hospital Beds per 1,000

66.762
(2021)

UHC Coverage Index

57
(2023)

Measles Immunization

91%
(2024)

Social Indicators

Extreme Poverty Rate

46.9%
(2022)

Food Insecurity

36.8%
(2023)

Youth NEET Rate

16.704%
(2022)

Governance

Women in Government

23.276%
(2024)

Voice & Accountability

-0.12
(Below Average)
(2023)

Political Stability

-0.94
(Below Average)
(2023)

Government Effectiveness

-0.30
(Below Average)
(2023)

Regulatory Quality

-0.39
(Below Average)
(2023)

Rule of Law

-0.33
(Below Average)
(2023)

Control of Corruption

-0.77
(Below Average)
(2023)

Government

Government Type

presidential republic

Legal System

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in the new Supreme Court established by the new constitution

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of...

Legislative Branch

description: bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate (67 seats; 47 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 20 directly elected by proportional...

Judicial Branch

highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission...

International Organizations

ACPAfDB AUCCD COMESA EACEADB

National Symbols

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 superimposed at the center; black symbolizes...

National Symbols

lion; national colors: black, red, green, white

National Anthem

name: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation) lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP,...

Safety

Homicide Rate

4.872 per 100,000
(2022)

Travel Information

Language(s): English, Swahili

Currency: KES (Sh)

Timezone(s): UTC+03:00

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

Driving Side: Left

Calling Code: +254

Car Sign: EAK

Week Starts: Monday

Photos

Approximately 250 km (160 mi) from Nairobi and close to the Tanzania border, Amboseli National Park affords visitors many opportunities to see magnificent animals like this one close up. Note the small white bird near the foot of the elephant. These "cattle egrets" are opportunistic feeders that often follow the elephants and eat the insects kicked up by the movement of their much larger friends.

Fischer's Tower at the eastern entrance to Hell's Gate Gorge in Hell's Gate National Park. The park is named after a narrow break in some cliffs, the site of a tributary to a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley.

Flowering bushes at the Kiambethu tea farm in Limuru.

Although all of the "Big Five" (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, and leopard) may be seen in the Masai Mara National Reserve, it probably is most famous for its lions. In this photo, a mother and her playful and easily distracted cub walk directly toward a stationary safari vehicle.

37 photos available

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Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data

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Kenya