Kenya population pyramid 2026
58,636,412 people in 2026 (projected). Kenya’s pyramid has a flattening base: the four youngest bands are now almost equal in width, after decades as one of the steepest pyramids on record.
- 2026 population
- 58.6Mrank 26 of 237
- Median age
- 20.3 yearsoldest rank 195
- Fertility rate
- 3.07births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.1% age 65+
Kenya population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Kenya age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 35.7% of the population, while 3.1% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 61.2% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Kenya’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 63.4: about 63 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (58.4 children and 5.0 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Kenya’s population pyramid
From record fertility to an early decline
In the 1970s Kenya had one of the highest fertility rates ever measured at national level, close to eight children per woman, and its population grew by more than 3.5% a year. The 1975 pyramid has an extraordinarily wide base, with more than a fifth of the population under five. Kenya was then among the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to see a sustained fertility decline: by 1990 the rate had fallen to about six, and by 2000 to about five. The decline paused around the turn of the century, a stall documented by successive Demographic and Health Surveys, before resuming in the late 2000s. The 2000 Kenya pyramid still shows each new birth cohort clearly larger than the one before.
A base that has stopped widening
The 2026 pyramid shows where that renewed decline has led. The four youngest bands, 0–4 through 15–19, covering children born in 2007–26, are now almost equal in width, between 5.7% and 6.3% per sex. Because the population as a whole is still growing, this means the annual number of births has risen only slowly over the past two decades, even though the number of women of childbearing age has grown much faster. In 2000 the 0–4 band was about half again as wide as the 15–19 band; in 2026 it is less than a tenth wider.
Above the base the pyramid still narrows quickly. The 15–19 band is about a seventh wider than the 20–24 band and nearly double the 35–39 band, so a very large generation is entering adulthood. This is the stage of the demographic transition at which the share of working-age adults rises, the opportunity often called the demographic dividend. Neighboring Ethiopia is at a similar point but with higher fertility, while Tanzania and Uganda retain steeper bases.
Under the UN medium scenario Kenya grows from about 59 million in 2026 to roughly 84 million by 2050, with fertility approaching replacement level and the median age rising to about 26.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Kenya’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Kenya is projected to record 1,558,303 births (about one birth every 20 seconds) and 417,824 deaths, a natural increase of 1,140,479. Net migration adds −34,838 people, ranking #138 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 34,310,683 births, 8,074,970 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −527,231. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −1,647,395 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 66.5 years38.2 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 62.0 years35.8 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 14.1 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 28.2per 1,000 births · 154 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 39.0per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.2 yearssex ratio at birth 102.1
Women in Kenya are projected to live 4.5 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 154 to 28.2 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #41 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.2 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Kenya
The median age of 20.3 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.07 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 64.2 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,636,412 | #26 | Largest first |
| Median age | 20.3 years | #195 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.07 | #54 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.9% | #48 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 64.2 years | #217 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.1% | #213 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Kenya
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 7,294,290 | 12.4% | 3.7M / 3.6M |
| 2 | 5–9 | 6,865,189 | 11.7% | 3.5M / 3.4M |
| 3 | 10–14 | 6,789,539 | 11.6% | 3.4M / 3.4M |
| 4 | 15–19 | 6,751,181 | 11.5% | 3.4M / 3.4M |
| 5 | 20–24 | 5,897,123 | 10.1% | 2.9M / 3M |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Kenya has 29,138,562 males and 29,497,849 females. That is 98.8 males per 100 females, ranking #102 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.7% of the population and females for 50.3%. There are 359,287 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 77.2 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 102.1 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, slightly below the typical value of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Kenya has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 5,769,184 in 1950 to 58,636,412 in 2026, a change of 916%. Over the same span, median age moved from 16.0 to 20.3 years.
The under-15 share changed from 45.6% to 35.7%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 5.3% to 3.1%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately. See the Kenya population pyramid in 1950 for the full starting shape.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Kenya’s population is projected to grow by about 43%, reaching 83,593,239 in 2050. The median age changes from 20.3 to 26.3 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.6 percentage points to 5.7%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 28.2%. The Kenya population pyramid for 2050 shows the projected shape in detail. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 104,234,508 in 2098. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5,769,184 | 16.0 | 7.39 | 36.9 | 284,634 | 175,894 | +6,288 | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 7,695,307 | 14.6 | 7.65 | 48.5 | 424,659 | 144,628 | +2,134 | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 11,368,792 | 13.3 | 7.94 | 54.1 | 597,316 | 154,251 | −13,064 | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 16,018,459 | 13.4 | 7.53 | 59.2 | 772,264 | 155,880 | −39,920 | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 22,892,652 | 14.3 | 6.14 | 58.3 | 1,005,684 | 216,584 | −11,338 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 30,642,890 | 15.6 | 5.14 | 56.1 | 1,233,019 | 304,655 | +5,407 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 41,598,566 | 16.9 | 4.45 | 60.9 | 1,508,620 | 308,848 | −21,069 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 52,217,334 | 18.8 | 3.36 | 61.6 | 1,450,722 | 414,434 | −17,111 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 55,339,003 | 19.5 | 3.21 | 63.6 | 1,499,998 | 399,024 | −10,003 | +2.0% |
| 2024* | 56,432,944 | 19.8 | 3.17 | 63.8 | 1,521,907 | 405,212 | −19,781 | +1.9% |
| 2026* | 58,636,412 | 20.3 | 3.07 | 64.2 | 1,558,303 | 417,824 | −34,838 | +1.9% |
| 2030* | 63,102,245 | 21.4 | 2.92 | 64.9 | 1,625,043 | 447,415 | −52,647 | +1.8% |
| 2040* | 74,108,863 | 24.0 | 2.61 | 66.5 | 1,651,115 | 538,345 | −67,646 | +1.4% |
| 2050* | 83,593,239 | 26.3 | 2.36 | 67.9 | 1,597,714 | 651,360 | −80,968 | +1.0% |
| 2060* | 91,569,580 | 28.8 | 2.18 | 69.2 | 1,594,798 | 782,435 | −80,488 | +0.8% |
| 2070* | 97,825,655 | 31.4 | 2.04 | 70.4 | 1,520,172 | 920,253 | −91,808 | +0.5% |
| 2080* | 101,743,624 | 33.7 | 1.95 | 71.7 | 1,433,487 | 1,054,339 | −87,691 | +0.3% |
| 2090* | 103,764,128 | 35.6 | 1.89 | 73.0 | 1,370,241 | 1,160,741 | −82,075 | +0.1% |
| 2100* | 104,195,500 | 37.5 | 1.84 | 74.4 | 1,280,613 | 1,223,420 | −96,990 | -0.0% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 3,673,898 | 3,620,392 | 7,294,290 | 12.4% |
| 5–9 | 3,456,381 | 3,408,808 | 6,865,189 | 11.7% |
| 10–14 | 3,417,744 | 3,371,795 | 6,789,539 | 11.6% |
| 15–19 | 3,386,693 | 3,364,488 | 6,751,181 | 11.5% |
| 20–24 | 2,923,677 | 2,973,446 | 5,897,123 | 10.1% |
| 25–29 | 2,423,918 | 2,547,238 | 4,971,156 | 8.5% |
| 30–34 | 2,060,488 | 2,166,629 | 4,227,117 | 7.2% |
| 35–39 | 1,881,119 | 1,896,457 | 3,777,576 | 6.4% |
| 40–44 | 1,587,999 | 1,545,223 | 3,133,222 | 5.3% |
| 45–49 | 1,259,406 | 1,227,909 | 2,487,315 | 4.2% |
| 50–54 | 981,332 | 981,142 | 1,962,474 | 3.3% |
| 55–59 | 753,636 | 780,895 | 1,534,531 | 2.6% |
| 60–64 | 544,290 | 593,235 | 1,137,525 | 1.9% |
| 65–69 | 353,769 | 414,135 | 767,904 | 1.3% |
| 70–74 | 208,006 | 262,419 | 470,425 | 0.8% |
| 75–79 | 127,832 | 161,994 | 289,826 | 0.5% |
| 80–84 | 61,005 | 98,224 | 159,229 | 0.3% |
| 85–89 | 24,599 | 53,169 | 77,768 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 9,505 | 22,175 | 31,680 | 0.1% |
| 95–99 | 2,679 | 6,463 | 9,142 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 588 | 1,615 | 2,203 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Kenya’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Sierra Leone98% overlap · median age 19.9
- Senegal98% overlap · median age 19.8
- Pakistan98% overlap · median age 20.8
- Guinea-Bissau98% overlap · median age 19.6
- Rwanda97% overlap · median age 20.2
- Iraq97% overlap · median age 21.1
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Kenya.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Kenya Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/kenya/
MLA
“Kenya Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/kenya/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Kenya Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/kenya/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kenya in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Kenya's population in 2026 is projected at 58,636,412.
What is the median age in Kenya?
The projected median age in Kenya in 2026 is 20.3 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Kenya?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.07 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Kenya's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 43%, from 58.6M to 83.6M.
What share of Kenya is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.1% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 5.7%.
How many babies are born in Kenya each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 1,558,303 births and 417,824 deaths in 2026, about one birth every 20 seconds. Births exceed deaths by 1,140,479.
What is life expectancy in Kenya for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 66.5 years for women and 62.0 years for men, a gap of 4.5 years in favour of women.
Does Kenya have more immigrants or emigrants?
Kenya is projected to lose about 34,838 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −527,231.
What is the sex ratio in Kenya?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 98.8 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.