Kenya - KE - KEN - KEN - Africa

Last updated: April 23, 2025
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  • African fish eagles at Kenya's Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies northwest of Nairobi and is part of the Great Rift Valley.

    African fish eagles at Kenya's Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies northwest of Nairobi and is part of the Great Rift Valley.

  • Hell's Gate National Park, in the Great Rift Valley, is one of the smallest national parks in Kenya. The steep sides of the gorge were formed from water-eroded sandstone.

    Hell's Gate National Park, in the Great Rift Valley, is one of the smallest national parks in Kenya. The steep sides of the gorge were formed from water-eroded sandstone.

  • A rhinoceros in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

    A rhinoceros in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

  • The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is famous for its lions. In this photo, a mother and her cub walk toward a stationary safari vehicle.

    The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is famous for its lions. In this photo, a mother and her cub walk toward a stationary safari vehicle.

  • Elephant in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

    Elephant in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

  • Zebras at a pool of water in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.

    Zebras at a pool of water in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.

  • Ibis and storks in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.

    Ibis and storks in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.

  • A view from inside the Rift Valley, Kenya.

    A view from inside the Rift Valley, Kenya.

  • A male cheetah in the morning sunlight in Kenya.

    A male cheetah in the morning sunlight in Kenya.

  • The topi (pictured here in Kenya) is a large antelope with a short glossy dark brown coat and bluish patches from the shoulders to the back legs.

    The topi (pictured here in Kenya) is a large antelope with a short glossy dark brown coat and bluish patches from the shoulders to the back legs.

  • The candelabra tree is common in Kenya's Rift Valley. It is a succulent that can grow to a height of 15 m (49.2 ft), with a trunk that's short and thick and forms a solid base that spreads out in a multitude of branches, resembling a candelabra.

    The candelabra tree is common in Kenya's Rift Valley. It is a succulent that can grow to a height of 15 m (49.2 ft), with a trunk that's short and thick and forms a solid base that spreads out in a multitude of branches, resembling a candelabra.

  • The winding Mara River in Kenya, as seen from the air.

    The winding Mara River in Kenya, as seen from the air.

  • The gerenuk, also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked antelope found in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of East Africa. It's shown here in Kenya.

    The gerenuk, also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked antelope found in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of East Africa. It's shown here in Kenya.

  • Also known as the gnu, the wildebeest (pictured here in Kenya) is a member of the antelope family with a large, box-like head and curving horns.

    Also known as the gnu, the wildebeest (pictured here in Kenya) is a member of the antelope family with a large, box-like head and curving horns.

  • African fish eagles at Kenya's Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies northwest of Nairobi and is part of the Great Rift Valley.

    African fish eagles at Kenya's Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies northwest of Nairobi and is part of the Great Rift Valley.

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  • Fischer's Tower at the eastern entrance to Hell's Gate Gorge in Hell's Gate National Park, Kenya. The park is named after a narrow break in some cliffs, the site of a tributary to a prehistoric lake in the Rift Valley.
  • Hell's Gate National Park, in the Great Rift Valley, is one of the smallest national parks in Kenya. The steep sides of the gorge were formed from water-eroded sandstone.
  • A rhinoceros in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
  • The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is famous for its lions. In this photo, a mother and her cub walk toward a stationary safari vehicle.
  • Elephant in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
  • Zebras at a pool of water in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.
  • Ibis and storks in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.
  • A view from inside the Rift Valley, Kenya.
  • A male cheetah in the morning sunlight in Kenya.
  • The topi (pictured here in Kenya) is a large antelope with a short glossy dark brown coat and bluish patches from the shoulders to the back legs.
  • The candelabra tree is common in Kenya's Rift Valley. It is a succulent that can grow to a height of 15 m (49.2 ft), with a trunk that's short and thick and forms a solid base that spreads out in a multitude of branches, resembling a candelabra.
  • The winding Mara River in Kenya, as seen from the air.
  • The gerenuk, also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked antelope found in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of East Africa. It's shown here in Kenya.
  • Also known as the gnu, the wildebeest (pictured here in Kenya) is a member of the antelope family with a large, box-like head and curving horns.
  • African fish eagles at Kenya's Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies northwest of Nairobi and is part of the Great Rift Valley.

Special Notes

Kenya Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Marc DILLARD (since November 2024)

embassy: P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi

mailing address: 8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC  20521-8900

telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000

FAX: [254] (20) 363-6157

email address and website:
kenya_acs@state.gov

https://ke.usembassy.gov/

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)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Kenya. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

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.)

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

Area - comparative

five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Area comparison map

five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Military service age and obligation

no conscription; 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); 9-year service obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year re-enlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens (2024)

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.

Environment - current 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; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international 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 expenditures

1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.6% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 31.8% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, tropical fruits (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Uganda 10%, USA 10%, UAE 8%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

Agricultural products

sugarcane, milk, maize, bananas, tea, potatoes, cassava, cabbages, camel milk, mangoes/guavas (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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)

note: the National Police Service maintains internal security and includes a paramilitary General Service Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit, as well as a Border Police Unit

Budget

revenues: $20.202 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures: $29.933 billion (2023 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Capital

name: Nairobi

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" and refers to a cold water stream that flowed through the area in the late 19th century

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, palm oil, wheat, plastics, garments (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline

536 km

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

Exchange rates

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
139.846 (2023 est.)
117.866 (2022 est.)
109.638 (2021 est.)
106.451 (2020 est.)
101.991 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)

head of government: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly

elections/appointments: 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; election last held on 9 August 2022 (next to be held on 10 August 2027)

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%

2017:  Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (JP) 98.3%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 1%, other 0.7%; note - Kenya held a previous presidential election on 8 August 2017, but Kenya's Supreme Court on 1 September 2017 nullified the results, citing irregularities; the political opposition boycotted the October vote

note: the president is both chief of state and head of 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 superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom

Roadways

total: 161,451 km

paved: 18,603 km

unpaved: 157,596 km (2023)

Illicit drugs

a transit country for illicit drugs and precursor chemicals; domestic drug consumption of cannabis and miraa (khat) is growing; heroin enters Kenya via Tanzania and in shipments across the Indian Ocean from Southwest Asia mostly destined for international markets, principally Europe; cocaine enters Kenya primarily via transshipment through Ethiopia

Independence

12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Industries

agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail

Waterways

(2011) none specifically; the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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 (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

Land boundaries

total: 3,457 km

border countries (5): Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km

Land use

agricultural land: 49.7% (2022 est.)

arable land: 11.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.3% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 37.4% (2022 est.)

forest: 6.3% (2022 est.)

other: 43.9% (2022 est.)

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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament of Kenya

legislative structure: bicameral

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 82.6%

male: 85.5%

female: 79.8% (2021)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

National holiday

Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule

Nationality

noun: Kenyan(s)

adjective: Kenyan

Natural resources

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

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 fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

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

Pipelines

4 km oil, 1,432 km refined products (2018)

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

Railways

total: 3,819 km (2018)

standard gauge: 485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Kenya’s telecom market continues to undergo considerable changes in the wake of increased competition, improved international connectivity, and rapid developments in the mobile market; the country is directly connected to a number of submarine cables, and with Mombasa through a terrestrial network, the country serves as a key junction for onward connectivity to the Arabian states and the Far East; numerous competitors are rolling out national and metropolitan backbone networks and wireless access networks to deliver services to population centers across the country; several fiber infrastructure sharing agreements have been forged, and as a result the number of fiber broadband connections has increased sharply in recent years; much of the progress in the broadband segment is due to the government’s revised national broadband strategy, which has been updated with goals through to 2030, and which are largely dependent on mobile broadband platforms based on LTE and 5G (2022)

domestic: fixed-line subscriptions stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriptions at 123 per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 254; landing point for the EASSy, TEAMS, LION2, DARE1, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems covering East, North and South Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat; launched first micro satellites in 2018 (2019)

Terrain

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Government type

presidential republic

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Kenya

conventional short form: Kenya

local long form: Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)

local short form: Kenya

former: British East Africa

etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the mountain's name may derive from the Kikuyu word kere nyaga, or "white mountain"

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Map references

Africa

Irrigated land

1,030 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)

chancery: 2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101

FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829

email address and website:
information@kenyaembassydc.org

https://kenyaembassydc.org/#

consulate(s): New York

Internet users

percent of population: 41% (2022 est.)

Internet country code

.ke

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 21,847 (Ethiopia), 5,756 (Sudan) (2023); 298,117 (Somalia), 176,776 (South Sudan), 59,384 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 8,701 (Burundi) (2024)

IDPs: 30,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2022)

stateless persons: 16,779 (2022); note - the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs; the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago; Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963; only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs; Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards

GDP (official exchange rate)

$108.039 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: B+ (2007)

Moody's rating: B2 (2018)

Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2010)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

30.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

about a half-dozen large-scale 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 on a national level along 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; direct radio frequency modulation transmissions available for several foreign government-owned broadcasters (2019)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 91.3% of population

rural: 63.3% of population

total: 71.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 8.7% of population

rural: 36.7% of population

total: 28.8% of population (2020 est.)

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, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE

note: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Kenya. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

National symbol(s)

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 years (2014 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Contraceptive prevalence rate

64.6% (2020)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 76.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 11.9% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.9% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 11.7% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -20.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 70.2

youth dependency ratio: 65.3

elderly dependency ratio: 4.8

potential support ratio: 20.7 (2021 est.)

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

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

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 98%

electrification - rural areas: 65.6%

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 25 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 188

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,935,831 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 294.97 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5Y

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 84% of population

rural: 48.1% of population

total: 58.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 16% of population

rural: 51.9% of population

total: 41.8% of population (2020 est.)

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.)

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.)

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)
Kiswahili audio sample

Imports - partners

China 22%, UAE 14%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 762 m

Current health expenditure

4.5% of GDP (2021)

Military - note

the KDF's chief security concerns and missions include protecting the country’s sovereignty and territory, regional disputes, the threat posed by the al-Shabaab terrorist group based in neighboring Somalia, maritime crime and piracy, and assisting civil authorities in responding to emergency, disaster, or political unrest as requested; 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 service personnel strengths

approximately 24,000 personnel (20,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2023)

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, Turkey, the UK, and the US; in late 2023, the Kenyan Government unveiled a five-year spending plan to procure upgraded military equipment, including aerial surveillance drones, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems (2024)

Military deployments

400 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); approximately 1,400 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Food insecurity

exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to drought conditions - about 4.4 million people were projected to be severely acutely food insecure between October and December 2022 reflecting consecutive poor rainy seasons since late 2020 that affected crop and livestock production; prices of maize are at high levels across the country due to reduced availabilities and high fuel prices inflating production and transportation costs (2023)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 3.23 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,595,099 tons (2010 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 447,608 tons (2009 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2009 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 12.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 17.91 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 37.65 megatons (2020 est.)

Major aquifers

Ogaden-Juba Basin

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km

salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km

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)

Coal

consumption: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 30 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 10.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 20.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal: 47.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.56 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.8% (2023 est.)

Remittances

3.91% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.55% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.44% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Space program overview

has a national space strategy focused on acquiring and applying space technologies and applications 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 African partners, including Egypt and South Africa; developing a satellite imagery/geospatial analysis and data sharing portal that contains 17 years of satellite imagery for other African countries, including Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania; cooperating with Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda to establish a joint remote sensing (RS) satellite to monitor climate changes on the African continent (African Development Satellite program) (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

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 (2024)

Space agency/agencies

Kenya Space Agency (KSA; established, 2017) (2024)

Ports

total ports: 4 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 2

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: National Assembly

number of seats: 350 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 8/9/2022

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)

percentage of women in chamber: 23.3%

expected date of next election: August 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate

number of seats: 68 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 8/9/2022

parties elected and seats per party: Kenya Kwanza Alliance (33); Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party (32); Other (1)

percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%

expected date of next election: August 2027

Labor force

25.52 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 12.2% (2023 est.)

male: 8.1% (2023 est.)

female: 16.3% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 21.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 21.1 years

female: 21.4 years

Debt - external

$33.484 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

530 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.342 billion (2023 est.)
$7.969 billion (2022 est.)
$9.491 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

54.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.16 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.68% (2023 est.)
5.81% (2022 est.)
5.69% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 58,246,378 (2024 est.)

male: 29,091,800

female: 29,154,578

Carbon dioxide 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.)

Area

total : 580,367 sq km

land: 569,140 sq km

water: 11,227 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

13.99% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$314.491 billion (2023 est.)
$297.938 billion (2022 est.)
$284.129 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

368 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 66.7 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

38.7 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.67% (2023 est.)
7.66% (2022 est.)
6.11% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

-$4.317 billion (2023 est.)
-$5.889 billion (2022 est.)
-$5.597 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$5,700 (2023 est.)
$5,500 (2022 est.)
$5,300 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1.32 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 11.1% (2020 est.)

male: 19.5% (2020 est.)

female: 2.7% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.1% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

5.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

25.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 3.824 million kW (2023 est.)

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.)

Merchant marine

total: 26 (2023)

by type: oil tanker 4, other 22

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.1% (2022)

Imports

$22.046 billion (2023 est.)
$24.606 billion (2022 est.)
$22.001 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$12.626 billion (2023 est.)
$13.954 billion (2022 est.)
$11.815 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 68,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 68.6 years

female: 72.2 years

Real GDP growth rate

5.56% (2023 est.)
4.86% (2022 est.)
7.59% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

1.88% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 21.8% (2023 est.)

industry: 16.9% (2023 est.)

services: 55.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

1.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Population growth rate

2.06% (2024 est.)
Sources: