Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.32 million (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.ke
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
34.98% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
68,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
126 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
71.4 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, milk, maize, bananas, tea, potatoes, cassava, cabbages, camel milk, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$30.924 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$20.202 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$4.842 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$6.378 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$4.421 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$4.038 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$5.740 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$4.989 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$5.258 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$3.291 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$5.597 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$5.889 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$4.317 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.550 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$41.556 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$31.451 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
134.822 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
86.1229 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
87.9222 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
98.1785 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
101.504 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
103.410 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
101.302 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
101.991 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
106.451 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
109.638 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
117.866 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
139.846 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
134.822 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, tropical fruits (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$10.100 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$11.249 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$10.608 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$9.913 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$10.449 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$11.564 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$11.471 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$11.516 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$11.815 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$13.954 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$12.626 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$20.537 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
11.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
11.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
75.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-19.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
17.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
21.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
16.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
55.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$6,644 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$124.499 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$374.948 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
40.8 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
36.2 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
38.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
38.5 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
31.8% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.9% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, palm oil, wheat, plastics, garments (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$13.744 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$17.669 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$16.171 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$19.080 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$20.167 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$20.408 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$19.083 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$22.001 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$24.606 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$22.046 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$27.823 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
6.58% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
6.30% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
8.01% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
4.69% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
5.24% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.41% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
6.11% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.66% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
7.67% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.49% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
23.781 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
39.80% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
53.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$154.709 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$173.207 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$188.546 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$205.511 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$240.007 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$250.255 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$284.129 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$297.938 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$314.491 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$328.632 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.97% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.21% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.84% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
5.65% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.11% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-0.27% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
7.59% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.86% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.72% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.72% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$3,359 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$3,678 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,917 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$4,177 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$4,687 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$4,793 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$5,339 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,883 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$6,317 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.304 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.441 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.569 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$3.108 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
3.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$5.000 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$7.515 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$7.554 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$7.325 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$8.164 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$9.116 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$8.297 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$9.491 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$7.969 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$7.342 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$10.067 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.01% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.61% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.69% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.57% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.41% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.49% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
16% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
11.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
30 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
65.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
76% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
98%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
10.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
47.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
20.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
10.002 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
34 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
316 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.824 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
3.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
5.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
113,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
3.316 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
15.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
19.023 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Environment: 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
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
49.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
6.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
44% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
1,241 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
334.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
32.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
127.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
12.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
30.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
3.234 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
303 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
495 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
31.89% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
5.595 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
19.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Geography: Area: land
569,140 sq km
Geography: Area: water
11,227 sq km
Geography: Coastline
536 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
762 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
1,030 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
3,457 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
49.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
6.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
44% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Ogaden-Juba Basin
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: 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: 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
Geography: Terrain
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
1 17 S, 36 49 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
4 out of the previous 7 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Kenya
Government: Country name: etymology
named for Mount Kenya; the mountain's name may derive from the Kikuyu word kere nyaga , or "white mountain"
Government: Country name: former
British East Africa
Government: Country name: local long form
Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)
Government: Country name: local short form
Kenya
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan M. BURNS (since 25 August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
kenya_acs@state.gov https://ke.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[254] (20) 363-6157
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[254] (20) 363-6000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s)
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
information@kenyaembassydc.org https://kenyaembassydc.org/#
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 462-3829
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 387-6101
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
10 August 2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
9 August 2022
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges)
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
August 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
8/9/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
350 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: 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)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
23.4%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
August 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
8/9/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
68 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Kenya Kwanza Alliance (33); Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party (32); Other (1)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
31.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament of Kenya
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
Government: 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
Government: 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”
Government: National color(s)
black, red, green, white
Government: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
8(5 cultural, 3 natural)
Government: National holiday
Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and 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 and Security: 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 and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 25,000 active Kenya Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: 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: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.20% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.25% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.24% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.21% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.11% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.11% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.08% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.01% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.98% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.00% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
35.8% (male 10,464,384/female 10,366,997)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
60.9% (male 17,731,068/female 17,723,012)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.4% (2024 est.) (male 896,348/female 1,064,569)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
25.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.8% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
2.2% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
12.5% (2022)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.35% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.2% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
18.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
64 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
58.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 86.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 46.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 13.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
28.5% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.02% (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.53 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.5% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
3.00% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
23.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
29 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
People and Society: 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)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
66.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
61.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
379 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
21.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
21.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.3 years (2014 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Kenyan
People and Society: Net migration rate
0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
7.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
56,432,944 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.96% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
27,894,198
People and Society: Population: male
27,857,519
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 60.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 39.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.84 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
15.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
8.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
31.89% (2024 est.)
Space: 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
Space: Space agency/agencies
Kenya Space Agency (KSA; established 2017) (2025)
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: 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)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
al-Shabaab
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
284,886 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
823,904 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
9,800 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
368 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5Y
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
oil tanker 4, other 22
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
26 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
4 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
3,819 km (2018)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.