Table of Contents
Overview
Kenya is a country located in Africa south of the Sahara. The current population of Kenya is 58,157,447 as of January 2026, based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
Agriculture
Kenya’s agricultural sector is a significant part of the economy, accounting for 21.3% of GDP and providing jobs for many people. In 2024, Maize was the main crop, with 4 million tonnes produced from 2.4 million hectares, followed by Irish potatoes at 2.1 million tonnes.
Exports of tea and horticultural products are essential, but the sector continues to face challenges, including drought and pests. Sugarcane, bananas, and cassava are also widely grown, helping keep food available and support people’s livelihoods, especially amid climate change. In 2023, Maize alone was worth KSh 199 billion.
Crime
Kenya’s overall crime rate dropped by 7.26% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. There were 22,635 reported cases in the sampled areas. Urban areas such as Nairobi experienced lower crime rates, whereas Kisumu’s crime rate increased by 12.65%. Organized crime grew, making Kenya fourth in Africa for criminal activity, mainly due to cybercrimes, trafficking, and fake goods.
In 2024, there were 1,011 homicides per DCI reports, mostly involving males as victims and offenders. Robberies and scams also increased, particularly during protests.
Demographics
Kenya has about 58.2 million people, making it the 26th most populous country in the world. The population is growing at an annual rate of 2.15%. The median age is 21.5 years. The country is very ethnically diverse, with the Kikuyu at 17.1%, the Luhya at 14.3%, and the Kalenjin at 13.4%. The official languages are English and Kiswahili, but many local languages are also spoken.
About 29.5% of the population lives in cities, mainly near Lake Victoria. The largest cities are Mombasa, with about 1.4 million people, and Nairobi, with 5.3 million. The sex ratio is balanced at 1:1, and families tend to have many children, with an average of 3.19 children per woman.
Economy
Kenya has the third-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a GDP of $328 billion (PPP) and expected growth of 4.5% in 2024. The average income per person is $5,800, but about 39% of people live in poverty. The country’s economy is mainly services (55.9%), followed by agriculture (21.3%) and industry (16.1%). Kenya exports products such as tea and flowers to countries including Uganda, the USA, and the UAE. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, while inflation remains steady at 4.5%.
Education
Kenya allocates approximately 4% of its GDP to education, accounting for 28.5% of its total budget. It ranks 108th globally in the share of its budget devoted to education. The government focuses on providing universal primary education, and most kids attend school. However, access and quality vary between rural and urban areas. In 2022, Kenya’s adult literacy rate was 82%, attributable to education reforms.
Geography
With coordinates 1 17 S, 36 49 E, and UTC +3 time zone, Kenya spans 580,367 sq km in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean and five countries (Ethiopia: 867 km; Somalia: 684 km; South Sudan: 317 km; Tanzania: 775 km; Uganda: 814 km). The terrain ranges from coastal plains to central highlands, with the Great Rift Valley dividing them. The highest point is Mount Kenya at 5,199 meters, and the elevation drops to the Indian Ocean coastline. Natural resources include limestone, salt, gemstones, zinc, wildlife, and hydropower.
Land use comprises 49.5% agriculture and 6.5% forest. Droughts and flooding pose hazards that affect diverse ecosystems, while major lakes like Lake Victoria (shared by Tanzania and Uganda) have economic and scientific value.
Health
Kenya’s average life span is about 70 years. Every year, around 27 out of every 1,000 babies die before turning one, and approximately 379 women die during childbirth for every 100,000 births. There are approximately 0.29 physicians per 1,000 people and approximately 1.3 hospital beds per 1,000 residents.
About 63% of people have access to clean water, and 61% have proper sanitation. The country spends 4.5% of its GDP on health, accounting for 8.7% of the National budget (2022 est.). Major health issues include malaria and HIV. Around 847,000 children suffer from severe malnutrition, and 7.1% of adults are obese.
Military
Kenya’s Defense Forces have approximately 25,000 active soldiers across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with military spending accounting for about 1.1% of the country’s GDP. Major countries that supply equipment include China, France, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the U.S. Kenya has peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with MONUSCO and in Somalia with about 1,400 troops for AUSSOM, both of which were expected to remain until 2025.
Miscellaneous
Kenya is known as the Cradle of Humanity because it has some of the oldest human fossils. It is also famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration and has 50 national parks, making it one of the best places in the world for safaris.
Religion
Most people in Kenya are Christians, accounting for approximately85.5% of the population according to CIA.gov. This includes Protestants (33.4%), Catholics (20.6%), and Evangelicals (20.4%). Muslims constitute approximately 10.9% of the population, particularly in coastal and northeastern regions. Other religions and people with no religion account for about 3.6%.
Weather
Kenya’s climate is near the equator, with temperatures typically between 20 and 28°C. It’s warmer along the coast. The country has two main rainy seasons: the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to December. Interior areas tend to be dry, and the highlands are cooler.