Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Kenya

Urban population share in Kenya in 2025 — 32.2%. Ranked 191 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 24 pp.

2025 32.2% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 191of 217
Period maximum 32.2%2025
Period minimum 8.2%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Kenya, 1960–202501020304019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 8.2%1962: 8.6%1964: 9%1966: 9.3%1968: 9.6%1970: 10.1%1972: 11.2%1974: 12.5%1976: 13.9%1978: 15%1980: 15.8%1982: 16.5%1984: 17%1986: 17.5%1988: 17.9%1990: 18.2%1992: 18.4%1994: 18.5%1996: 18.7%1998: 18.9%2000: 19.5%2002: 21.9%2004: 25.4%2006: 29%2008: 31.4%2010: 31.9%2012: 31.9%2014: 31.8%2016: 31.7%2018: 31.4%2020: 31.2%2022: 31.4%2024: 31.9%2025: 32.2%
Change over the period: +24 pp Annual average: 0.37 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Kenya

Kenya 32.2%
World 57.8%
Eastern Africa computed 31.8%
Urban population share — Kenya, by year Kenya All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.2 +0.3 pp
2024 31.9 +0.3 pp
2023 31.6 +0.2 pp
2022 31.4 +0.1 pp
2021 31.3 +0.1 pp
2020 31.2 +0 pp
2019 31.2 −0.2 pp
2018 31.4 −0.1 pp
2017 31.5 −0.1 pp
2016 31.7 −0.1 pp
2015 31.7 −0.1 pp
2014 31.8 −0 pp
2013 31.8 −0 pp
2012 31.9 −0 pp
2011 31.9 −0 pp
2010 31.9 +0 pp
2009 31.9 +0.4 pp
2008 31.4 +1 pp
2007 30.4 +1.4 pp
2006 29 +1.7 pp
2005 27.3 +1.9 pp
2004 25.4 +1.9 pp
2003 23.6 +1.7 pp
2002 21.9 +1.4 pp
2001 20.4 +1 pp
2000 19.5 +0.4 pp
1999 19 +0.1 pp
1998 18.9 +0.1 pp
1997 18.8 +0.1 pp
1996 18.7 +0.1 pp
1995 18.6 +0.1 pp
1994 18.5 +0.1 pp
1993 18.5 +0.1 pp
1992 18.4 +0.1 pp
1991 18.3 +0.1 pp
1990 18.2 +0.1 pp
1989 18.1 +0.2 pp
1988 17.9 +0.2 pp
1987 17.7 +0.2 pp
1986 17.5 +0.2 pp
1985 17.3 +0.3 pp
1984 17 +0.3 pp
1983 16.8 +0.3 pp
1982 16.5 +0.3 pp
1981 16.2 +0.3 pp
1980 15.8 +0.4 pp
1979 15.5 +0.4 pp
1978 15 +0.6 pp
1977 14.5 +0.6 pp
1976 13.9 +0.7 pp
1975 13.2 +0.7 pp
1974 12.5 +0.7 pp
1973 11.8 +0.6 pp
1972 11.2 +0.6 pp
1971 10.6 +0.5 pp
1970 10.1 +0.3 pp
1969 9.8 +0.2 pp
1968 9.6 +0.2 pp
1967 9.4 +0.2 pp
1966 9.3 +0.1 pp
1965 9.1 +0.1 pp
1964 9 +0.2 pp
1963 8.8 +0.2 pp
1962 8.6 +0.2 pp
1961 8.4 +0.2 pp
1960 8.2

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.