The Kenya Population
Official figures released in January 2007 estimated the population of Kenya was 36.1 million in 2006. The population growth rate, however, had dropped from 2.82 percent in 2005 to 2.75 percent in 2006. This decline is largely attributed to death from disease and better methods of family planning. The table below shows the 2006 population distributed by age group and gender.
Source: (Facts and Figures 2007. Published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. You can view or download this publication at http://www.cbs.go.ke)
Update: The latest census count was carried out in September 2009 and a new report outlining the Kenya population and distribution figures as of 2009 will be released shortly.
Population Distribution
About 75 percent of Kenya's population is concentrated in the highly productive agricultural belt that runs northwest from Nairobi to the Ugandan border. This belt makes up only 10 percent of the country's total land area. Most of the remaining area is either arid or semi-arid and is sparsely populated. Approximately three (3) million people live in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.
Kenya Population Demographics
By EthnicityKikuyu 22%Luhya 14% Luo 13% Kalenjin 12% Kamba 11% Kisii 6% Meru 6% Other African 15% Non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1% By ReligionChristian-Protestant 45%Roman Catholic 33% Muslim 10% Indigenous beliefs 10% Other 2% |
It is important to note that the urban population is growing at an alarming rate as many Kenyans migrate from their rural homes to urban centers, including major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret, in search of employment and better standards of living. This has resulted in the over-population of the major cities and a scarcity of jobs. Most of the urban dwellers, however, continue to retain links with their rural and extended families. They visit home often, where they participate in activities such as farming, fishing and supporting and caring for their family.
Back to TOP of Kenya Population Page
