Country profile · Sub-Saharan Africa · LMC

🇰🇪 Kenya

Lower middle income. Capital Nairobi. Lower-third GDP/cap (LMC · MID) - 40 series with wider survey lag risk.

56.4 million
Population
$120.4 billion
GDP
$2,133
GDP / capita
63.8 years
Life expectancy
RSS
Sub-Saharan Africa Lower middle income Capital: Nairobi

Lower-third GDP/cap · MID

Kenya ranks 67th of 217 by total GDP and 197th for life expectancy - a lower middle income economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

#67
World GDP rank (of 217)
$2,133
GDP per capita
#197
Life-expectancy rank
#26
Population rank

Kenya lands in the lower third of GDP/cap (#171 of 214) - LMC · MID - so national averages need rural/urban caution.

Kenya vs all countries by total GDP

Where this economy's World Bank total GDP sits among every country with a positive observation (inventory signal, not a virtue ranking)

$120,397,537,850 67th of 214 higher than 147 of 214 countries

Countries banded by World Bank total GDP (current US$)

Each bar is a $0.001K-wide band; taller bars hold more countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source World Bank, GDP (current US$) · 2026-08-14

Kenya on the global income map

Kenya (KEN) sits in the lower GDP/cap third - plotted with largest peers; bubble area = population.

Kenya on the global income map Kenya positioned by World Bank GDP per capita and life expectancy against its largest peers. Each point shows the latest available observation year for both measures. 50 60 70 80 90 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Life expectancy at birth (years) India - GDP/cap $2,695 (2024) · life expectancy 72.2 years (2024) · lower-middle income IND China - GDP/cap $13,303 (2024) · life expectancy 78.0 years (2024) · upper-middle income CHN United States - GDP/cap $84,534 (2024) · life expectancy 78.9 years (2024) · high income · OECD USA Indonesia - GDP/cap $4,925 (2024) · life expectancy 71.3 years (2024) · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan - GDP/cap $1,479 (2024) · life expectancy 67.8 years (2024) · lower-middle income Nigeria - GDP/cap $1,084 (2024) · life expectancy 54.6 years (2024) · low income Brazil - GDP/cap $10,311 (2024) · life expectancy 76.0 years (2024) · upper-middle income Bangladesh - GDP/cap $2,593 (2024) · life expectancy 74.9 years (2024) · lower-middle income Russian Federation - GDP/cap $14,889 (2024) · life expectancy 73.4 years (2024) · high income Ethiopia - GDP/cap $1,134 (2024) · life expectancy 67.6 years (2024) · low income Mexico - GDP/cap $14,186 (2024) · life expectancy 75.3 years (2024) · high income · OECD Japan - GDP/cap $32,487 (2024) · life expectancy 84.0 years (2024) · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. - GDP/cap $3,338 (2024) · life expectancy 71.8 years (2024) · lower-middle income Philippines - GDP/cap $3,985 (2024) · life expectancy 69.9 years (2024) · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. - GDP/cap $693 (2024) · life expectancy 62.1 years (2024) · low income Viet Nam - GDP/cap $4,717 (2024) · life expectancy 74.7 years (2024) · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. - GDP/cap $5,190 (2024) · life expectancy 77.9 years (2024) · upper-middle income Turkiye - GDP/cap $15,893 (2024) · life expectancy 77.4 years (2024) · high income · OECD Germany - GDP/cap $56,104 (2024) · life expectancy 80.8 years (2024) · high income · OECD Thailand - GDP/cap $7,387 (2024) · life expectancy 76.6 years (2024) · upper-middle income United Kingdom - GDP/cap $53,246 (2024) · life expectancy 81.4 years (2024) · high income · OECD Tanzania - GDP/cap $1,193 (2024) · life expectancy 67.2 years (2024) · lower-middle income France - GDP/cap $46,103 (2024) · life expectancy 83.0 years (2024) · high income · OECD South Africa - GDP/cap $6,267 (2024) · life expectancy 66.3 years (2024) · upper-middle income Italy - GDP/cap $40,385 (2024) · life expectancy 84.0 years (2024) · high income · OECD Kenya - GDP/cap $2,133 (2024) · life expectancy 63.8 years (2024) · lower-middle income Myanmar - GDP/cap $1,359 (2024) · life expectancy 67.1 years (2024) · lower-middle income Colombia - GDP/cap $7,951 (2024) · life expectancy 77.9 years (2024) · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. - GDP/cap $36,239 (2024) · life expectancy 83.6 years (2024) · high income · OECD Sudan - GDP/cap $985 (2024) · life expectancy 66.5 years (2024) · low income Uganda - GDP/cap $1,078 (2024) · life expectancy 68.5 years (2024) · low income Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member
  • Kenya: GDP per capita $2,133 (2024), life expectancy 63.8 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • India: GDP per capita $2,695 (2024), life expectancy 72.2 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • China: GDP per capita $13,303 (2024), life expectancy 78.0 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • United States: GDP per capita $84,534 (2024), life expectancy 78.9 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Indonesia: GDP per capita $4,925 (2024), life expectancy 71.3 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • Pakistan: GDP per capita $1,479 (2024), life expectancy 67.8 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • Nigeria: GDP per capita $1,084 (2024), life expectancy 54.6 years (2024), low income.
  • Brazil: GDP per capita $10,311 (2024), life expectancy 76.0 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • Bangladesh: GDP per capita $2,593 (2024), life expectancy 74.9 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • Russian Federation: GDP per capita $14,889 (2024), life expectancy 73.4 years (2024), high income.
  • Ethiopia: GDP per capita $1,134 (2024), life expectancy 67.6 years (2024), low income.
  • Mexico: GDP per capita $14,186 (2024), life expectancy 75.3 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Japan: GDP per capita $32,487 (2024), life expectancy 84.0 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Egypt, Arab Rep.: GDP per capita $3,338 (2024), life expectancy 71.8 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • Philippines: GDP per capita $3,985 (2024), life expectancy 69.9 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • Congo, Dem. Rep.: GDP per capita $693 (2024), life expectancy 62.1 years (2024), low income.
  • Viet Nam: GDP per capita $4,717 (2024), life expectancy 74.7 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • Iran, Islamic Rep.: GDP per capita $5,190 (2024), life expectancy 77.9 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • Turkiye: GDP per capita $15,893 (2024), life expectancy 77.4 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Germany: GDP per capita $56,104 (2024), life expectancy 80.8 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Thailand: GDP per capita $7,387 (2024), life expectancy 76.6 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • United Kingdom: GDP per capita $53,246 (2024), life expectancy 81.4 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Tanzania: GDP per capita $1,193 (2024), life expectancy 67.2 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • France: GDP per capita $46,103 (2024), life expectancy 83.0 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • South Africa: GDP per capita $6,267 (2024), life expectancy 66.3 years (2024), upper-middle income.
  • Italy: GDP per capita $40,385 (2024), life expectancy 84.0 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Myanmar: GDP per capita $1,359 (2024), life expectancy 67.1 years (2024), lower-middle income.
  • Colombia: GDP per capita $7,951 (2024), life expectancy 77.9 years (2024), upper-middle income, OECD member.
  • Korea, Rep.: GDP per capita $36,239 (2024), life expectancy 83.6 years (2024), high income, OECD member.
  • Sudan: GDP per capita $985 (2024), life expectancy 66.5 years (2024), low income.
  • Uganda: GDP per capita $1,078 (2024), life expectancy 68.5 years (2024), low income.

Overview

Kenya has a population of 56.4 million, making it the 26th-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Its economy totals $120.4 billion - ranked 67th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $2,133, placing it in the Lower middle income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 63.8 years (ranked 197th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Nairobi.

👥 Demographics

Population
56.4 million
2024
Population Ages 0-14
36.8%
2024
Population Ages 65+
3.0%
2024
Population Density
95.3/km²
2023
Urban Population
31.9%
2024

💰 Economy

Foreign Direct Investment
$463.4 million
2024
GDP (Current USD)
$120.4 billion
2024
GDP Growth Rate
4.7%
2024
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$2,133.462
2024
Inflation (Consumer Prices)
4.5%
2024
Trade (% of GDP)
40.0%
2024
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
2024

🏥 Health

Health Expenditure (% of GDP)
4.4%
2023
Infant Mortality Rate
34.2 per 1,000
2024
Life Expectancy at Birth
63.8 years
2024
Maternal Mortality Ratio
149
2023
Physicians (per 1,000 people)
0.3 per 1,000
2023
Stunting Prevalence (under 5)
17.6
2022
Under-5 Mortality Rate
38.8 per 1,000
2024

📚 Education

Education Expenditure (% of GDP)
4.0%
2024
Literacy Rate (Adult)
82.2
2000
School Enrollment (Primary)
98.2
2023
School Enrollment (Secondary)
84.3
2023
School Enrollment (Tertiary)
10.4
2024
Youth Literacy Rate
93.2
2014

🌍 Environment

CO2 Emissions Per Capita
0.4
2024
Electric Power Consumption
195 kWh
2024
Forest Area
6.2
2023
Freshwater Withdrawal
19.5
2022
Renewable Energy Consumption
67.7%
2021

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Electricity
76.2%
2023
Access to Sanitation
35.8%
2024
Internet Users
35.0%
2024
Mobile Subscriptions
126.5
2024

⚖️ Social

Female Labor Participation
63.0
2024
GINI Index
38.5
2022
Intentional Homicides
4.9
2022
Male Labor Participation
71.9
2024
Net Migration
-19,781
2024
Poverty (< $2.15/day)
45.5%
2022

🌐 Livability Score

One composite verdict from 4 of 5 World Bank series (life expectancy, under-5 mortality, electricity access, clean-water access, homicide rate), each benchmarked against every country tracking that series. A missing series never silently drags the score down: its weight redistributes across the series Kenya does report.

Overall
F
21/100
Life expectancy F
63.8 years
World Bank, 2024 (217-country benchmark)
Under-5 mortality F
38.8 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024 (196-country benchmark)
Access to electricity F
76.2%
World Bank, 2023 (215-country benchmark)
Access to clean water N/A
N/A
World Bank
Safety (homicide rate) F
4.9 per 100,000
UNODC via World Bank, 2022 (195-country benchmark)

All indicators for Kenya

40 latest observations from World Bank WDI, WHO GHO, and ILO ILOSTAT (vintage through 2026-08-14). Values match the topic cards above; this table is the machine-readable export view analysts expect on a country profile.

TopicIndicatorValueYear
DemographicsPopulation56.4 million2024
DemographicsPopulation Ages 0-1436.8%2024
DemographicsPopulation Ages 65+3.0%2024
DemographicsPopulation Density95.3/km²2023
DemographicsUrban Population31.9%2024
EconomyForeign Direct Investment$463.4 million2024
EconomyGDP (Current USD)$120.4 billion2024
EconomyGDP Growth Rate4.7%2024
EconomyGDP Per Capita (Current USD)$2,133.4622024
EconomyInflation (Consumer Prices)4.5%2024
EconomyTrade (% of GDP)40.0%2024
EconomyUnemployment Rate5.5%2024
HealthHealth Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4%2023
HealthInfant Mortality Rate34.2 per 1,0002024
HealthLife Expectancy at Birth63.8 years2024
HealthMaternal Mortality Ratio1492023
HealthPhysicians (per 1,000 people)0.3 per 1,0002023
HealthStunting Prevalence (under 5)17.62022
HealthUnder-5 Mortality Rate38.8 per 1,0002024
EducationEducation Expenditure (% of GDP)4.0%2024
EducationLiteracy Rate (Adult)82.22000
EducationSchool Enrollment (Primary)98.22023
EducationSchool Enrollment (Secondary)84.32023
EducationSchool Enrollment (Tertiary)10.42024
EducationYouth Literacy Rate93.22014
EnvironmentCO2 Emissions Per Capita0.42024
EnvironmentElectric Power Consumption195 kWh2024
EnvironmentForest Area6.22023
EnvironmentFreshwater Withdrawal19.52022
EnvironmentRenewable Energy Consumption67.7%2021
InfrastructureAccess to Electricity76.2%2023
InfrastructureAccess to Sanitation35.8%2024
InfrastructureInternet Users35.0%2024
InfrastructureMobile Subscriptions126.52024
SocialFemale Labor Participation63.02024
SocialGINI Index38.52022
SocialIntentional Homicides4.92022
SocialMale Labor Participation71.92024
SocialNet Migration-19,7812024
SocialPoverty (< $2.15/day)45.5%2022

🫀 Disease Burden

Malaria still registers on Kenya (20.7 per 100,000 vs fleet midpoint 0.3). Profiles where that cell is zero drop the card entirely. Summary metrics use 2021 data; cause-specific cards show their own observation year.

NCD Death Rate
508
per 100K · 2021
Maternal Mortality
379
per 100K births · 2021
Malaria Deaths
20.65
per 100K · 2021

Communicable & Maternal

Injuries & External Causes

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: 2021. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

Compare Kenya with near GDP/cap peers

Side-by-side pages for the closest ABS GDP/cap neighbours - not a full-roster dropdown.

What the data says about Kenya

Kenya is a lower-middle-income economy, a tier where a large share of economic activity often sits outside formally measured, monetized markets, so official statistics can understate real living standards more than the headline dollar figures suggest. Spread across a large population, Kenya's national averages can obscure enormous variation between its urban centres and its rural regions, so a single national figure should be read as a rough midpoint rather than a description of most people's actual circumstances. The trend across several years of an indicator usually tells a more useful story than any single year's value.

Kenya lands in the lower third of GDP/cap (#171 of 214) - LMC · MID - so national averages need rural/urban caution.

Kenya's 56.4 million people and $120.4 billion GDP (67th) yield $2,133 per person in the lower GDP/cap third. Life expectancy 63.8 years (197th, MID) and survey lag both matter when reading single-year cells. 40 official points sit in the tables.

Nearest ABS GDP/cap peer: Lao PDR at $2,124 (Δ $9). Open that profile or the GDP/cap leaderboard before treating any single year as destiny.

What to do with Kenya's numbers

Kenya is classified LMC with MID. Use that context before comparing any single figure to another country.

  • Compare Kenya directly against any other country, side by side, on the indicators that matter to you. Compare countries
  • See exactly where Kenya ranks among all 217 tracked countries on a specific indicator, not just the ones shown here. Indicator rank finder
  • Learn the common mistakes people make citing country statistics before you quote a number from this page. Reading country profiles

Figures above are sourced from World Bank, WHO, and ILO (OECD where applicable) as cited below; always verify against the primary source before citing a specific number.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice. See our full disclaimer and editorial policy.