Population density in Kenya
Kenya: Population density was 95.27 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
95.27 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
108th
of 215 countries
All-time high
95.27 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
14.03 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Kenya, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in Kenya is 95.27 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Kenya peaked at 95.27 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 14.03 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
That places Kenya 108th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density in Kenya, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 14.03 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 14.58 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 15.16 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 15.77 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 1965 | 16.41 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 1966 | 17.07 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 17.77 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 18.48 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 19.22 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
| 1970 | 19.98 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 20.71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 21.45 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 22.2 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 22.96 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 23.74 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 24.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 25.35 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 26.24 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 27.16 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 28.14 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 29.17 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 30.23 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 31.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 32.53 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 33.74 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 34.97 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 36.22 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 37.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 38.86 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 40.22 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 41.55 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 42.84 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 44.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 45.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 46.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 48.04 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 49.38 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 50.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 52.24 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 53.84 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 55.56 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 57.33 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 59.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 60.99 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 62.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 64.84 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 66.83 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 68.89 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 73.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 75.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 77.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 79.04 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 80.91 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 82.45 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 84.01 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 85.56 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 87.02 people per sq. km of land area | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 88.45 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 89.89 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 91.62 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 93.4 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 95.27 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.5 people per sq. km of land area | 14.03 people per sq. km of land area | 19.22 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 23.43 people per sq. km of land area | 19.98 people per sq. km of land area | 27.16 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 33.28 people per sq. km of land area | 28.14 people per sq. km of land area | 38.86 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.13 people per sq. km of land area | 40.22 people per sq. km of land area | 52.24 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.13 people per sq. km of land area | 53.84 people per sq. km of land area | 71 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.28 people per sq. km of land area | 73.09 people per sq. km of land area | 88.45 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 92.54 people per sq. km of land area | 89.89 people per sq. km of land area | 95.27 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 105 Northern Mariana Islands 98.14 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 106 Côte d'Ivoire 98.01 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 107 Spain 96.76 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 109 Honduras 95.14 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 110 Senegal 93.89 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 111 Timor-Leste 93.09 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Kenya
- Population in the largest city 31.1% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1272 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 7.32 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 11.65 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 5.77 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.645 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 47.42 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Kenya?
- Population density in Kenya was 95.27 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 95.27 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.03 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for population density?
- Kenya ranks 108th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.