Kenya has a very diverse population that includes most major language groups of Africa. Traditional pastoralists, rural farmers, Muslims, and urban residents of Nairobi and other cities contribute to the cosmopolitan culture. The standard of living in major cities, once relatively high compared to much of Sub-Saharan Africa, has been declining in recent years. Most city workers retain links with their rural, extended families and leave the city periodically to help work on the family farm. About 75% of the work force is engaged in agriculture, mainly as subsistence farmers. The urban sector employs 0.9 million people.
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1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | |
Population, total (millions) | 23.72 | 31.96 | 42.03 | 53.77 |
Population growth (annual %) | 3.4 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) | 580.4 | 580.4 | 580.4 | 580.4 |
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) | 41.7 | 56.2 | 73.8 | 94.5 |
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) | .. | .. | .. | .. |
Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) | 31.7 | 32.2 | .. | .. |
Income share held by lowest 20% | 3.4 | 5.6 | .. | .. |
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 57 | 51 | 61 | 67 |
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) | 6.1 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 3.4 |
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) | 128 | 107 | 91 | 72 |
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) | 27 | 39 | 46 | 60 |
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) | 50 | 43 | 44 | .. |
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) | 102 | 99 | 57 | 42 |
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) | 19.4 | 17.1 | 12.7 | .. |
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) | 78 | 78 | 86 | 88 |
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) | .. | .. | .. | .. |
School enrollment, primary (% gross) | 98.8 | 93.2 | 103.9 | .. |
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) | 40 | 39 | 57 | .. |
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) | 1 | 1 | 1 | .. |
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) | 4.8 | 9.1 | 5.7 | 4.2 |
Environment | ||||
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) | 38.6 | 39.6 | 36.2 | 36.1 |
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) | .. | .. | .. | 10.5 |
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) | 9.4 | 10 | 15.5 | 19.5 |
Urban population growth (annual %) | 5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4 |
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) | 452 | 438 | 464 | .. |
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.3 | 0.42 |
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) | 124 | 104 | 148 | .. |
Net migration (thousands) | 222 | 25 | -50 | -50 |
Personal remittances, received (current US$) (millions) | 139 | 538 | 686 | 3,108 |
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) (millions) | 57 | 111 | 178 | 426 |
Net official development assistance received (current US$) (millions) | 1,181.30 | 513.9 | 1,631.30 | 3,987.90 |