2021 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. The British established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895, which in 1920 was converted into a colony and named Kenya after its highest mountain. Numerous political disputes between the colony and the UK subsequently 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 in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following 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 founding president Jomo KENYATTA, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI's reelection in 2007 resulted in two months of post-election ethnic violence that caused the death of more than 1,100 people and the dislocation of hundreds of thousands. Opposition candidate Raila ODINGA, accused the government of widespread vote rigging. African Union-sponsored mediation led by former UN Secretary General Kofi ANNAN resulted in a power-sharing accord that brought ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister. The power sharing accord included a broad reform agenda, the centerpiece of which was constitutional reform. In 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly adopted a new constitution in a national referendum. The new constitution introduced additional checks and balances to executive power and devolved power and resources to 47 newly created counties. It also eliminated the position of prime minister. Uhuru KENYATTA won the first presidential election under the new constitution in March 2013. KENYATTA won a second and final term in office in November 2017 following a contentious, repeat election.

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 fresh water 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

48.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 37.4% (2018 est.)

forest

6.1% (2018 est.)

other

45.8% (2018 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 seasonsvolcanism: 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

38.71% (male 10,412,321/female 10,310,908)

15-24 years

20.45% (male 5,486,641/female 5,460,372)

25-54 years

33.75% (male 9,046,946/female 9,021,207)

55-64 years

4.01% (male 1,053,202/female 1,093,305)

65 years and over

3.07% (male 750,988/female 892,046) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

26.78 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.2% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

59.7% (2019)

Current Health Expenditure

5.2% (2018)

Death rate

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Kenya has experienced dramatic population growth since the mid-20th century as a result of its high birth rate and its declining mortality rate. More than 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15 because of sustained high fertility, early marriage and childbearing, and an unmet need for family planning. Kenya’s persistent rapid population growth strains the labor market, social services, arable land, and natural resources. Although Kenya in 1967 was the first Sub-Saharan country to launch a nationwide family planning program, progress in reducing the birth rate has largely stalled since the late 1990s, when the government decreased its support for family planning to focus on the HIV epidemic. Government commitment and international technical support spurred Kenyan contraceptive use, decreasing the fertility rate (children per woman) from about 8 in the late 1970s to less than 5 children twenty years later, but it has plateaued at just over 3 children today.Kenya is a source of emigrants and a host country for refugees. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kenyans pursued higher education in the UK because of colonial ties, but as British immigration rules tightened, the US, the then Soviet Union, and Canada became attractive study destinations. Kenya’s stagnant economy and political problems during the 1980s and 1990s led to an outpouring of Kenyan students and professionals seeking permanent opportunities in the West and southern Africa. Nevertheless, Kenya’s relative stability since its independence in 1963 has attracted hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping violent conflicts in neighboring countries; Kenya shelters more than 300,000 Somali refugees as of April 2017.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.3

potential support ratio

23.5 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

69.8

youth dependency ratio

65.5

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 60.4% of population

improved: total

total: 68% of population

improved: urban

urban: 89% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 39.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 32% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 11% of population

Education expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2020)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.2% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

29,000 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.4 million (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

25.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

31.93 deaths/1,000 live births

total

28.81 deaths/1,000 live births

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

71.03 years (2021 est.)

male

67.65 years

total population

69.32 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

78.2% (2018)

male

85%

total population

81.5%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

4.922 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.341 million Mombassa (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

342 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

20.1 years (2020 est.)

male

19.9 years

total

20 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 years (2014 est.)

note

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

Nationality

adjective

Kenyan

noun

Kenyan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.1% (2016)

Physicians density

0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

54,685,051 (July 2021 est.)

note

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

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

Population growth rate

2.15% (2021 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: 41.2% of population

improved: total

total: 51.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 78.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 58.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 48.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 21.2% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 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 (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.36 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.8% (2019)

male

12%

total

12.9%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

28.5% of total population (2021)

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

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

amendments

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

previous 1963, 1969; latest drafted 6 May 2010, passed by referendum 4 August 2010, promulgated 27 August 2010

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form

Kenya

etymology

named for Mount Kenya; the meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words "kirinyaga," "kirenyaa," and "kiinyaa" - all of which mean "God's resting place"

former

British East Africa

local long form

Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya

local short form

Kenya

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric W. Kneedler (since 20 January 2021)

email address and website

kenya_acs@state.govhttps://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

1616 P Street NW, Suite 340, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Lazarus Ombai AMAYO (since 17 July 2020)

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

email address and website

information@kenyaembassydc.orghttps://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 Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (Jubilee Party) 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

elections/appointments

president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving an absolute majority popular vote, the presidential candidate must also win at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties to avoid a runoff; election last held on 26 October 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

head of government

President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - position of the prime minister was abolished after the March 2013 elections 

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

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, 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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

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 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

description

bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate (67 seats; 47 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 20 directly elected by proportional representation vote - 16 women, 2 representing youth, and 2 representing the disabled; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly (349 seats; 290 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 47 women in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote, and 12 members nominated by the National Assembly - 6 representing youth and 6 representing the disabled; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Jubilee Party 24; National Super Alliance 28, other 14, independent 1; composition - men 46, women 41, percent of women is 31.3% National Assembly - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Jubilee Party 165, National Super Alliance 119, other 51, independent 13; composition - men 273, women 76, percent of women 21.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women is 23%

elections

Senate - last held on 8 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022) National Assembly - last held on 8 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022)

National anthem

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

name

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

note

note: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

Alliance Party of Kenya or APK [Kiraitu MURUNGI]Amani National Congress or ANC [Musalia MUDAVADI]Federal Party of Kenya or FPK [Cyrus JIRONGA]Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K [Moses WETANGULA]Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-P [Henry OBWOCHA]Jubilee Party [Uhuru KENYATTA]Kenya African National Union or KANU [Gideon MOI]National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Charity NGILU]Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya or ODM [Raila ODINGA]Wiper Democratic Movement-K or WDM-K (formerly Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K) [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugar cane, milk, maize, potatoes, bananas, camel milk, cassava, sweet potatoes, mangoes/guavas, cabbages

Budget

expenditures

19.24 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

13.95 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B+ (2007)

Moody's rating

B2 (2018)

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2010)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

-$56.194 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

-$57.594 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$25.706 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$29.289 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

Kenya is the economic, financial, and transport hub of East Africa. Kenya’s real GDP growth has averaged over 5% for the last decade. Since 2014, Kenya has been ranked as a lower middle income country because its per capita GDP crossed a World Bank threshold. While Kenya has a growing entrepreneurial middle class and steady growth, its economic development has been impaired by weak governance and corruption. Although reliable numbers are hard to find, unemployment and under-employment are extremely high, and could be near 40% of the population. In 2013, the country adopted a devolved system of government with the creation of 47 counties, and is in the process of devolving state revenues and responsibilities to the counties.Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing one-third of GDP. About 75% of Kenya’s population of roughly 48.5 million work at least part-time in the agricultural sector, including livestock and pastoral activities. Over 75% of agricultural output is from small-scale, rain-fed farming or livestock production. Tourism also holds a significant place in Kenya’s economy. In spite of political turmoil throughout the second half of 2017, tourism was up 20%, showcasing the strength of this sector. Kenya has long been a target of terrorist activity and has struggled with instability along its northeastern borders. Some high visibility terrorist attacks during 2013-2015 (e.g., at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall and Garissa University) affected the tourism industry severely, but the sector rebounded strongly in 2016-2017 and appears poised to continue growing.Inadequate infrastructure continues to hamper Kenya’s efforts to improve its annual growth so that it can meaningfully address poverty and unemployment. The KENYATTA administration has been successful in courting external investment for infrastructure development. International financial institutions and donors remain important to Kenya's growth and development, but Kenya has also successfully raised capital in the global bond market issuing its first sovereign bond offering in mid-2014, with a second occurring in February 2018. The first phase of a Chinese-financed and constructed standard gauge railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi opened in May 2017.In 2016 the government was forced to take over three small and undercapitalized banks when underlying weaknesses were exposed. The government also enacted legislation that limits interest rates banks can charge on loans and set a rate that banks must pay their depositors. This measure led to a sharp shrinkage of credit in the economy. A prolonged election cycle in 2017 hurt the economy, drained government resources, and slowed GDP growth. Drought-like conditions in parts of the country pushed 2017 inflation above 8%, but the rate had fallen to 4.5% in February 2018.The economy, however, is well placed to resume its decade-long 5%-6% growth rate. While fiscal deficits continue to pose risks in the medium term, other economic indicators, including foreign exchange reserves, interest rates, current account deficits, remittances and FDI are positive. The credit and drought-related impediments were temporary. Now In his second term, President KENYATTA has pledged to make economic growth and development a centerpiece of his second administration, focusing on his "Big Four" initiatives of universal healthcare, food security, affordable housing, and expansion of manufacturing.

Exchange rates

currency

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

87.921 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

98.179 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

102.4 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

101.4 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

111.45 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$9.723 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$11.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$11.49 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

tea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, coffee, titanium (2019)

Exports - partners

Uganda 10%, United States 9%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 7%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Tanzania 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

13.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

14.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

79.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-25.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

18.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-1% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

34.5% (2017 est.)

industry

17.8% (2017 est.)

services

47.5% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$95.52 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2008

42.5 (2008 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

40.8 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.8% (2005)

lowest 10%

1.8%

Imports

Imports 2017

$18.653 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$20.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$20.41 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, wheat, iron products (2019)

Imports - partners

China 24%, United Arab Emirates 10%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

3.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism, information technology

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

8% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

4.6% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

5.1% (2019 est.)

Labor force

19.6 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

61.1%

industry

6.7%

services

32.2% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

36.1% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

53.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

54.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$216.05 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$227.64 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$226.94 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

4.79% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

6.32% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

5.39% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$4,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$4,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$4,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$7.256 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$7.354 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2001

40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate 2013

40% (2013 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.8% (2019)

male

12%

total

12.9%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

12,550 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

7.863 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

39.1 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

34% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

33% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

184 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.401 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

9.634 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

79% (2019)

electrification - total population

85% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

99% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

109,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

173 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

90,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

13,960 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1.25 (2020 est.)

total

674,191 (2020)

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)

Internet country code

.ke

Internet users

percent of population

22.57% (2019 est.)

total

21.75 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line subscriptions stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 104 per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

through increased competition, Kenya’s telecom market has improved international bandwidth and experienced rapid development in mobile sector, including remote regions; four fiber-optic submarine cables reduced costs and increased service to population; government supported LTE and broadband, promising economic support of free WiFi; mobile operators progress with 5G tests; e-commerce interoperability; importer of broadcasting equipment, video displays, and computers from China (2020)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

66,646 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

114.2 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

61,408,904 (2020)

Airports

total

197 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

6

over 3,047 m

5

total

16

under 914 m

1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

14

914 to 1,523 m

107

total

181

under 914 m

60 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5Y

Merchant marine

by type

oil tanker 3, other 23 (2021)

total

26

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

294.97 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

5,935,831 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

188

number of registered air carriers

25 (2020)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Mombasa

major seaport(s)

Kisumu, Mombasa

Railways

narrow gauge

3,334 km 1.000-m gauge (2018)

standard gauge

485 km 1.435-m gauge (2018)

total

3,819 km (2018)

Roadways

paved

14,420 km (8,500 km highways, 1,872 urban roads, and 4,048 rural roads) (2017)

total

177,800 km (2018)

unpaved

147,032 km (2017)

Waterways

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 (2011)

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships

Military - note

Kenyan military forces intervened in Somalia in October 2011 to combat the al Qaida-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group, which had conducted numerous cross-border attacks into Kenya; in November 2011, the UN and the African Union invited Kenya to incorporate the force into the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); Kenyan forces were formally integrated into AMISOM in February 2012; as of mid-2021, they consisted of approximately 3,600 troops and were responsible for AMISOM’s Sector 2 comprising Lower and Middle Jubba (see Appendix-T for additional details on al-Shabaab)

Military and security forces

Kenya Defense Forces: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2021)

note

note - the National Police Service maintains internal security and reports to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government; it includes a paramilitary General Service Unit; the Kenya Coast Guard Service (established 2018) is under the Ministry of Interior, but led by a military officer and comprised of personnel from the military, as well as the National Police Service, intelligence services, and other government agencies

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) are comprised of approximately 24,000 personnel (20,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2021)

Military deployments

3,650 Somalia (AMISOM) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the KDF's inventory traditionally carried mostly older or second-hand Western weapons systems, particularly from France, the UK, and the US; however, since the 2000s it has sought to modernize and diversify its imports; suppliers since 2010 include China, France, Italy, Jordan, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, and the US (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.3% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.3% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.2% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.3% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020)

Military service age and obligation

no conscription; 18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (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), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year re-enlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens (2021)

Disputes - international

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; as of March 2019, Kenya provides shelter to nearly 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times; in 2018, Kenya signed an MoU with Uganda and South Sudan to help demarcate their borders

Illicit drugs

a transit country for a variety of illicit drugs, including heroin and cocaine; transit location for precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamine and other drugs; heroin from Southwest Asia enters Kenya destined for international markets, mainly Europe; cocaine transits through Kenya shipped through Ethiopia from South America;  cultivates cannabis and miraa (khat) for both local use and export

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

190,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2020)

refugees (country of origin)

281,812 (Somalia), 134,473 (South Sudan), 30,534 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 20,655 (Ethiopia), 7,233 (Burundi) (2021)

stateless persons

16,820 (2020); 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

Terrorist group(s)

al-Shabaab; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

note

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 Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

17.91 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

37.65 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

25.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

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

Food insecurity

exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies

due to poor seasonal rains, and desert locusts - about 2 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the March−May 2021 period, reflecting the poor performance of both the October−December 2020 “short-rains” and the March−May 2021 “long-rains” that affected crop and livestock production in northern and eastern pastoral, agro-pastoral and marginal agriculture areas; other limiting factors include the measures implemented to curb the spread of the COVID‑19 pandemic which affected off‑farm income earning opportunities, including petty trade, charcoal and firewood sales, and to localized but significant locust‑induced pasture losses (2021)

Land use

agricultural land

48.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 37.4% (2018 est.)

forest

6.1% (2018 est.)

other

45.8% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Ogaden-Juba Basin

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

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)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

1.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

30.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

303 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

495 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

28.5% of total population (2021)

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.)