Kenya - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Kenya was 15,053,280 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 15,053,280 in 2020 and a minimum value of 597,800 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 597,800
1961 633,772
1962 672,218
1963 717,674
1964 767,144
1965 820,071
1966 876,976
1967 938,166
1968 1,003,926
1969 1,074,702
1970 1,163,479
1971 1,262,432
1972 1,370,320
1973 1,487,524
1974 1,614,921
1975 1,753,191
1976 1,903,418
1977 2,065,840
1978 2,242,033
1979 2,433,015
1980 2,558,293
1981 2,675,785
1982 2,798,792
1983 2,926,779
1984 3,059,404
1985 3,196,035
1986 3,336,730
1987 3,481,221
1988 3,629,438
1989 3,780,849
1990 3,973,392
1991 4,179,236
1992 4,392,049
1993 4,611,735
1994 4,838,155
1995 5,071,324
1996 5,311,635
1997 5,558,971
1998 5,814,749
1999 6,079,808
2000 6,358,390
2001 6,648,222
2002 6,949,822
2003 7,264,511
2004 7,593,875
2005 7,938,446
2006 8,299,731
2007 8,677,870
2008 9,072,572
2009 9,482,264
2010 9,907,053
2011 10,349,400
2012 10,809,160
2013 11,286,230
2014 11,778,220
2015 12,284,620
2016 12,804,900
2017 13,339,740
2018 13,891,410
2019 14,461,520
2020 15,053,280

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization