01
Physical geography
Low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west.
Local timeNairobi ·
Africa / Eastern Africa · Card 026
Kenya
Kenya is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Nairobi.
Find Kenya
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Languages
- English & Swahili
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling (KES)
- Population
- 57.5 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 580,367 km²224,081 square miles
- Independence
- 1963from the UK
Kenya in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Nairobi; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
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Languages
Languages used in public life include English, Swahili.
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Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania.
Flag
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 at the center
History & independence
Kenya became independent from Britain on 12 December 1963 after nationalist organizing, the Mau Mau uprising and constitutional negotiations. It became a republic a year later. The 2010 constitution introduced a devolved system of county governments.
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Independence from Britain
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Kenya becomes a republic
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A new constitution establishes devolved government
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture, trade, finance, telecommunications and tourism are important activities. Tea, horticultural products and other farm exports earn foreign currency. Nairobi is a regional business and transport center.
Industry and production
agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people57.52025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,368,791 | 11.369 |
| 1980 | 16,018,459 | 16.018 |
| 1990 | 22,892,651 | 22.893 |
| 2000 | 30,642,890 | 30.643 |
| 2010 | 41,598,567 | 41.599 |
| 2020 | 52,217,334 | 52.217 |
| 2025 | 57,532,493 | 57.532 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars109.82025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30,431,959,354 | 30.432 |
| 1991 | 30,869,676,465 | 30.870 |
| 1992 | 30,622,875,267 | 30.623 |
| 1993 | 30,731,034,422 | 30.731 |
| 1994 | 31,540,116,339 | 31.540 |
| 1995 | 32,929,842,157 | 32.930 |
| 1996 | 34,295,389,782 | 34.295 |
| 1997 | 34,458,259,247 | 34.458 |
| 1998 | 35,592,009,622 | 35.592 |
| 1999 | 36,412,543,752 | 36.413 |
| 2000 | 36,630,908,099 | 36.631 |
| 2001 | 38,015,522,174 | 38.016 |
| 2002 | 38,223,413,680 | 38.223 |
| 2003 | 39,344,305,939 | 39.344 |
| 2004 | 41,352,557,259 | 41.353 |
| 2005 | 43,795,114,732 | 43.795 |
| 2006 | 46,629,751,037 | 46.630 |
| 2007 | 49,824,229,273 | 49.824 |
| 2008 | 49,939,962,360 | 49.940 |
| 2009 | 51,591,446,860 | 51.591 |
| 2010 | 55,748,929,986 | 55.749 |
| 2011 | 58,603,891,851 | 58.604 |
| 2012 | 61,281,315,912 | 61.281 |
| 2013 | 63,608,687,383 | 63.609 |
| 2014 | 66,801,914,097 | 66.802 |
| 2015 | 70,120,446,897 | 70.120 |
| 2016 | 73,074,983,895 | 73.075 |
| 2017 | 75,879,571,212 | 75.880 |
| 2018 | 80,165,208,728 | 80.165 |
| 2019 | 84,264,984,851 | 84.265 |
| 2020 | 84,035,138,347 | 84.035 |
| 2021 | 90,413,816,677 | 90.414 |
| 2022 | 94,807,911,028 | 94.808 |
| 2023 | 100,230,916,345 | 100.231 |
| 2024 | 104,901,873,444 | 104.902 |
| 2025 | 109,761,569,108 | 109.762 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.628Medium human developmentRank 143 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.485
20000.500
20100.552
20200.600
20230.628
63.6 yearsLife expectancy at birth
8.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parliament of Kenya has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Kenya.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Kenya?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.