Kenya Country Facts

Area: 581.313 km2

Location: East Africa

Capital: Nairobi

Bordering: Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Indian Ocean 

Coastline: 536 km

Climate: Varies from tropical along the coast and to arid in the interior

Natural resources: Limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife and hydropower

Geographical note: The Kenyan highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. Glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak. The unique physiography in Kenya supports abundant and varied wildlife of great scientific and economic value.

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KSH)

GDP per capita: 1.880 US $

Annual growth: 6.1% (2021 estimate)

Inflation: 5,3% (2021 estimate)

Unemployment rate: 26,7 % (2021)

Major industries:Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism and financial services

Danish Development Assistance: DKK 990 million in 2021-2025 (2021)

Government type: Presidential representative democratic republic

President: William Ruto

Deputy President: Rigathi Gachagua

Cabinet secretary of foreign affairs and Diaspora affairs: Dr. Alfred N. Mutua

Cabinet secretary of the National Treasury and Economic Planning: Prof Njuguna S. Ndung’u

Major political parties: Parties at the last election included the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Constitution: August 2010 

Health indicators

Per capita total expenditure on health (PPP int. $) (2019): 88,39 $

Life expectancy (male/female) (2020): 63 years / 68 years

Fertility rate (children born/woman) (2022): 3,42

Maternal and child mortality

Maternal mortality rate (per 100.000 live births), (2022): 355

Children under the age of 5 years underweight (2022): 10%

Under five mortality rate (probability of dying by age 5 per 1000 live births) (2022): 41

Immunization rate of children under one year old: 88 % (2021)

Population: 53,8 million (2020 estimate)

Ethnic groups (approx): Kikuyu 17%, Luhya 14%, Kalenjiin 13%, Luo 11%, Kamba 10%, Somalis 6%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Other African 10%, Other (European, Asian, Arab) 1%

Population growth rate: 1,9 % pr. year (2021)

Life expectancy (male/female): 63 years / 68 years (2019)

Languages: English, Kiswahili, various indigenous languages

Religion: Protestant 61%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 1%, other 8% (2019)