Kenya Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

Kenya, state of eastern Africa; 580,000 km², 51.4 million residents (2019).Kenya borders east to Somalia, north to Ethiopia and south Sudan, west to Uganda, south to Tanzania and south-east to the Indian Ocean. The capital is Nairobi (3.2 million residents, 2010).

Country facts

Republic of Kenya (English), Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili) / Republic of Kenya
Country abbreviation: KE
Area: 580 000 km²
Population (2019): 51.4 million residents
Capital: Nairobi
Main languages: English, Swahili
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: Uhuru Kenyatta (President)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 1,710
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 1 620
Currency unit: 1 shilling = 100 cents
Currency code: KES
Country number (telephony): 254
Internet domain name: ke
Time difference compared to Sweden: +2
National Day: December 12 (Independence Day, 1963)

Nature

Land use: forest (3%), agricultural land (8%), other (89%)
Highest mountain: Mount Kenya (5,200 meters above sea level)
Largest lake: Lake Turkana (8,600 km² )

Population

Population density (2019): 89 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 2.3%; birthrate 29 ‰, deathrate 6 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (41%), 15-64 (57%), 65- (2%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 64 years, women 68 years
Infant mortality (2019): 37 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 92 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.590 (place 142 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 32%
Most populous cities (2010): Nairobi (3.2 million residents), Mombasa (917,800), Kisumu (275,300)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (34%), industry (18%), service (48%)
Exports (2017): US $ 5,792 million
Main export products: tea, cut flowers, coffee
Main exporting countries: Uganda, Pakistan, USA
Imports (2017): US $ 15 990 million
Main import products: machinery, oil, vehicles
Main importing countries: China, India, United Arab Emirates
Railway network (2018): 3,819 km

Kenya is for the most part a highland, intersected by the East African rift system. Most of the country has a dry climate; the coastal areas and the mountain regions get the most rain.

The country’s constitution was amended in 2010 to reduce the president and increase the power of the National Assembly. The National Assembly has 224 members. The National Assembly and the president are elected in general elections for a five-year term.

Agriculture is the main employment and source of income for the majority of the population, but the tourism industry and the manufacturing industry are also important. This makes the country vulnerable to international economic fluctuations. After a few years of economic growth, the unrest over the 2007 elections and the international financial crisis had negative effects on the economy.