Kenya Population Pyramid (2026)
Kenya has a population of 58,636,412 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 26th-largest population in the world and 0.71% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 35.7% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.1%, with 98.8 males for every 100 females.
Kenya Demographics
Kenya has 58.6 million people in 2026, up 415.8% from 11.4 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 1,140,479 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 3.1% — the 21st-lowest of 194 countries.
Median age 20.3 — the 42nd-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 32.8% (19,218,637)
All generations in Kenya →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Kenya's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Kenya has 98.8 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 359,286 (0.6% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:29,138,563
- Percentage:49.7%
Female Statistics
- Population:29,497,849
- Percentage:50.3%
- Ratio Format:1:1.012
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Kenya indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 1,558,303 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,469,426 | 27.6 | 3.31 | estimate |
| 2022 | 1,483,377 | 27.3 | 3.26 | estimate |
| 2023 | 1,499,998 | 27.1 | 3.21 | estimate |
| 2024 | 1,521,907 | 27.0 | 3.17 | projection |
| 2025 | 1,540,813 | 26.8 | 3.12 | projection |
| 2026 | 1,558,303 | 26.6 | 3.07 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (1,558,303 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Kenya's median age is 20.3 years
Half the population is younger than 20.3 years, half is older — indicating a very young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 7,294,291 | 12.4% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 6,865,188 | 11.7% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 6,789,539 | 11.6% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 6,751,181 | 11.5% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 5,897,123 | 10.1% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 4,971,155 | 8.5% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 4,227,117 | 7.2% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 3,777,577 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 3,133,222 | 5.3% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 2,487,315 | 4.2% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,962,474 | 3.3% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,534,532 | 2.6% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 1,137,525 | 1.9% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 767,904 | 1.3% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 470,425 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 289,826 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 159,228 | 0.3% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 77,766 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 31,680 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 9,141 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 2,202 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 3 (falling birth rate): 3.07 children per woman and 26.6 births per 1,000, with a low death rate (7.1). Read more about Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Kenya Total Fertility Rate: 3.07 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.31 | 27.6 | |
| 2022 | 3.26 | 27.3 | ↓0.05 |
| 2023 | 3.21 | 27.1 | ↓0.05 |
| 2024 | 3.17 | 27.0 | ↓0.04 |
| 2025 | 3.12 | 26.8 | ↓0.05 |
| 2026 | 3.07 | 26.6 | ↓0.05 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 2.92
Kenya's total fertility rate is 3.07 children per woman in 2026 (above replacement), above the replacement level of 2.1. Kenya ranks 52 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the highest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −58.5% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Kenya's population has increased by 916.4%.
The median age has increased from 16.0 in 1950 to 20.3 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Kenya's Demographics
Kenya has an expansive population pyramid — a broad base of children that narrows steadily toward older ages.
Children under 15 make up 35.7% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.1%.
The largest five-year age band is 0–4, at 12.4% of the population.
Demographic Analysis: Kenya's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 56.0% in 2016 to 61.2% in 2026 (dependency ratio 63.4).
Fertility Transition Stage
Kenya is in a period of above replacement, with a total fertility rate of 3.07 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Kenya's median age changed by +2.4 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 58,636,412 |
| Male Population | 29,138,563(49.7%) |
| Female Population | 29,497,849(50.3%) |
| Median Age | 20.3 years |
| Sex Ratio | 98.8 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 20,949,018(35.7%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 35,879,222(61.2%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 1,808,172(3.1%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 63.4 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 58.4 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 5.0 |
| Pyramid Type | Expansive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Kenya
How long the average person in Kenya is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Kenya is projected to grow to 83.6 million people by 2050 (+42.6% from 2026).
The median age rises from 20.3 in 2026 to 26.3 by 2050.
Kenya's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 40.9%, growing from 11.4 million in 1970 to 16.0 million by 1980.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 11.4M to 16.0M
- • Growth rate of 40.9% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 13.3 to 13.4 years (+0.1y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.2 points; under-15 share by +−0.0 points
How Does Kenya Compare to Its Neighbors?
Kenya has an older population than Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia. Kenya has a smaller population than Ethiopia, Tanzania.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kenya
How does Kenya rank globally by population?
Kenya ranks 26th in the world by population with 58.6 million people as of 2026, representing 0.71% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Kenya's age structure reveal about its development?
Kenya's age structure — 35.7% under 15, 61.2% working-age (15–64) and 3.1% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 3 of the demographic transition, with an expansive population pyramid. The median age is 20.3 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Kenya?
Kenya has 63.4 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Kenya experiencing a demographic dividend?
Kenya is opening its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 56.0% in 2016 to 61.2% in 2026 (dependency ratio 63.4). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Kenya's population?
Kenya has more females than males, with 98.8 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Kenya Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/kenya
View UN World Population Prospects Data →