2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

569,140 sq km

total

580,367 sq km

water

11,227 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline

536 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Kenya 5,199 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

762 m

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

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

Irrigated land

1,030 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km

total

3,457 km

Land use

agricultural land

49.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)

forest

6.5% (2023 est.)

other

44% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Ogaden-Juba Basin

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

(Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Natural resources

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

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

Terrain

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

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

25.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

1.8% (2022)

women married by age 15

2.2% (2022)

women married by age 18

12.5% (2022)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.8% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.2% (2022 est.)

Death rate

4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.5 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

18.2 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

64 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

58.5 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 86.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 46.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 13.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

28.5% national budget (2025 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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.53 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.5% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

23.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.2 years

male

68.6 years

total population

70.4 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

379 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

21.4 years

male

21.1 years

total

21.5 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Kenyan

noun

Kenyan(s)

Net migration rate

0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.1% (2016)

Physician density

0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

27,894,198

male

27,857,519

total

55,751,717 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

2.15% (2025 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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 60.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 39.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.9% (2025 est.)

male

15.5% (2025 est.)

total

8.6% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.09 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

29.5% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

etymology

the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi

geographic coordinates

1 17 S, 36 49 E

name

Nairobi

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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

history

current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form

Kenya

etymology

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

former

British East Africa

local long form

Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)

local short form

Kenya

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan M. BURNS (since 25 August 2025)

email address and website

kenya_acs@state.gov https://ke.usembassy.gov/

embassy

P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi

FAX

[254] (20) 363-6157

mailing address

8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900

telephone

[254] (20) 363-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)

consulate(s)

New York

email address and website

information@kenyaembassydc.org https://kenyaembassydc.org/#

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829

telephone

[1] (202) 387-6101

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)

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%

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

expected date of next election

10 August 2027

head of government

President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)

most recent election date

9 August 2022

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 type

presidential republic

Independence

12 December 1963 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament of Kenya

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

National Assembly

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

August 2027

most recent election date

8/9/2022

number of seats

350 (all directly elected)

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

23.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

August 2027

most recent election date

8/9/2022

number of seats

68 (all directly elected)

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%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

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

title

"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (O God of All Creation)

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”

National color(s)

black, red, green, white

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)

total World Heritage Sites

8(5 cultural, 3 natural)

National holiday

Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963)

National symbol(s)

lion

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$30.924 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$20.202 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$5.597 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$5.889 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$4.317 billion (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$31.451 billion (2023 est.)

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

Exchange rates

Currency

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

106.451 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

109.638 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

117.866 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

139.846 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

134.822 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$11.815 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$13.954 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$12.626 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

11.1% (2024 est.)

government consumption

11.5% (2024 est.)

household consumption

75.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-19.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

21.3% (2024 est.)

industry

16.1% (2024 est.)

services

55.9% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$124.499 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

38.7 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.8% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.9% (2021 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$22.001 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$24.606 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$22.046 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.5% (2024 est.)

Labor force

23.781 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.6% (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

53.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$297.938 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$314.491 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$328.632 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$5,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$5,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$5,800 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$7.969 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$7.342 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$10.067 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

16% (2024 est.)

male

8.3% (2024 est.)

total

11.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

30 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

10.002 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

34 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

316 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.824 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

65.6%

electrification - total population

76% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

98%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

10.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

47.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

20.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

5.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

113,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2023 est.)

total

1.32 million (2023 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.ke

Internet users

percent of population

35% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

68,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

71.4 million (2024 est.)

Airports

368 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5Y

Merchant marine

by type

oil tanker 4, other 22

total

26 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa

large

0

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

1

small

2

total ports

4 (2024)

very small

1

Railways

narrow gauge

3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

standard gauge

485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge

total

3,819 km (2018)

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 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 service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active Kenya Defense Forces (2025)

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 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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

284,886 (2024 est.)

refugees

823,904 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

9,800 (2024 est.)

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 agency/agencies

Kenya Space Agency (KSA; established 2017) (2025)

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 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)

Terrorist group(s)

al-Shabaab

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

total emissions

19.023 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

1,241 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

334.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

32.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

127.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

12.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

30.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3.234 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

303 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

495 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

5.595 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

19.9% (2022 est.)