Kenya Population Live (2026)
The live population of Kenya, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the most interesting countries on Earth.
Kenya has an estimated population of about 55.9 million people in 2026 — 0.68% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 25th largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Kenya's latest birth rate (27.5 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (5.3 per 1,000).
Is the population of Kenya growing?
Yes. Around 4,209 babies are born in Kenya every day — about 175 an hour — while around 811 people die. That leaves a natural increase of roughly 3,398 people a day, or about 1.2 million a year: a growth rate of 2.22% before migration. At that pace the population would double in roughly 32 years. Kenya has the 8th fastest natural growth of the 72 countries we track.
A birth rate of 27.5 per 1,000 people is well above the world average of about 16.9, which means a large share of the population is made up of children and young adults. It ranks 9th of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
These figures count births and deaths only. Migration moves Kenya's real population up or down each year, which is why official census figures can differ from our estimate.
Births and deaths in Kenya
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 2.9 | 0.6 | 2.4 |
| Per hour | 175 | 34 | 142 |
| Per day | 4,209 | 811 | 3,398 |
| Per week | 29,463 | 5,678 | 23,785 |
| Per year | 1,536,278 | 296,083 | 1,240,195 |
How crowded is Kenya?
With about 55.9 million people living on 580,367 km², Kenya has roughly 96.3 people per square kilometre. That is above the world average of about 61 per km² (37th of 72 for density).
Life expectancy in Kenya
A baby born in Kenya today can expect to live about 66.7 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is below the world average (65th of 72), mostly because more children die young and access to healthcare is more limited than in richer countries. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $2,082 per person (62nd of 72), Kenya is a lower-income country. As incomes, education and access to healthcare rise, birth rates almost always fall — which is why the UN expects growth here to slow over the coming decades.
Kenya at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 55,864,655 | 25 |
| Births per day | 4,209 | 15 |
| Deaths per day | 811 | 34 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 27.5 | 9 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 5.3 | 63 |
| Natural growth rate | 2.22% / year | 8 |
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 65 |
| Population density | 96.3 / km² | 37 |
| GDP per person | $2,082 | 62 |
| Area | 580,367 km² | — |
| Capital | Nairobi | — |
| Languages | Swahili, English | — |
| Currency | Kenyan Shilling (Ksh) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Kenya's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Kenya's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kenya in 2026?
The population of Kenya in 2026 is estimated at about 55.9 million people, which is around 0.68% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Kenya every day?
About 4,209 babies are born in Kenya every day — roughly 175 per hour, or 1.5 million per year — based on a birth rate of 27.5 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Kenya every day?
About 811 people die in Kenya every day — roughly 34 per hour, or 296,083 per year — based on a death rate of 5.3 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Kenya growing or shrinking?
Growing. Births exceed deaths by about 3,398 people a day, a natural growth rate of 2.22% a year before migration.
What is the life expectancy in Kenya?
Life expectancy at birth in Kenya is about 66.7 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Kenya population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Kenya's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.