Kenya: Facts and Figures - Facts and Figures

Official name

Republic of Kenya

Capital

Nairobi

Area

582,646 sq km

224,961 sq mi

Administrative divisions (population)

Central

4,152,600 (1993 estimate)

Coast Province

2,430,700 (1993 estimate)

Eastern

4,940,900 (1993 estimate)

Nairobi

1,758,900 (1993 estimate)

North Eastern

741,400 (1993 estimate)

Nyanza

4,804,500 (1993 estimate)

Rift Valley Province

6,107,900 (1993 estimate)

Western

3,176,000 (1993 estimate)

Largest cities (population)

Nairobi

2,143,020 (1999)

Mombasa

660,800 (1999)

Nakuru

219,366 (1999)

Kisumu

194,390 (1999)

Eldoret

137,016 (1999)

Thika

82,665 (1999)

Meru

78,100 (1999)

Kitale

63,245 (1999)

Nyeri

46,969 (1999)

Population

36,913,721 (2007 estimate)

Population growth rate

2.80 per cent (2007 estimate)

Population density

65 persons per sq km (2007 estimate)

168 persons per sq mi (2007 estimate)

Urbanization

Per cent urban

42 per cent (2005 estimate)

Per cent rural

58 per cent (2005 estimate)

Life expectancy

Total

55.3 years (2007 estimate)

Female

55.4 years (2007 estimate)

Male

55.2 years (2007 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

57 deaths per 1,000 live births (2007 estimate)

Literacy rate

Total

86.9 per cent (2005 estimate)

Female

82.1 per cent (2005 estimate)

Male

91.7 per cent (2005 estimate)

Ethnic divisions

Kikuyu

21 per cent

Luhya

14 per cent

Luo

12 per cent

Kalenjin

11 per cent

Kamba

11 per cent

Kisii

6 per cent

Meru

6 per cent

Other

19 per cent

Languages

Swahili or Kiswahili (official), English (official), Kikuyu, Luyio, Luo, numerous other indigenous languages

Religions

Protestant

40 per cent

Roman Catholic

30 per cent

Indigenous beliefs

22 per cent

Muslim

6 per cent

Other or none

2 per cent

Type of government

Republic

Independence

December 12, 1963 (from the United Kingdom)

Constitution

December 12, 1963; amended 1964, 1969, 1991, 1997

Voting rights

Universal at age 18

Gross domestic product (GDP) (US$)

18,730 million (2005)

GDP per capita (US$)

546.80 (2005)

GDP by economic sector

GDP, agriculture

27 per cent (2005)

GDP, industry

18.5 per cent (2005)

GDP, services

54.4 per cent (2005)

National budget (US$)

Total revenue

2,401 million (2002)

Total expenditure

2,717 million (2002)

Monetary unit

1 Kenya shilling (Ksh), consisting of 100 cents

Exports

Tea, coffee, petroleum products, fruits, cement, soda ash

Imports

Machinery and transport equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, iron and steel, raw materials, food and consumer goods

Major trading partners for exports

Uganda, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Germany, Netherlands, United States

Major trading partners for imports

United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Japan, India, Germany, United States

Industries

Plastic, furniture, rubber, batteries, textiles, clothing, ceramics, cigarettes, flour; food processing, oil refining, cement, tourism

Agriculture

Cash crops: coffee, tea; food products: maize, wheat, sugar cane, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Natural resources

Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorite, garnets, wildlife

Basic Facts and People sections

Area data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Population, population growth rate, and population projections are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International Data Base (IDB) (www.census.gov). Urban and rural population data are from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), FAOSTAT database (www.fao.org). Largest cities population data and political divisions data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Ethnic divisions and religion data are largely from the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook and from various country censuses and reports. Language data are largely from the Ethnologue, Languages of the World, Summer Institute of Linguistics International (www.sil.org).

Health and Education section

Life expectancy and infant mortality data are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International database (IDB) (www.census.gov). Population per physician and population per hospital bed data are from the World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int). Education data are from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org).

Government section

Government, independence, legislature, constitution, highest court, and voting qualifications data are largely from various government Web sites, the latest Europa World Yearbook, and the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. The armed forces data are from Military Balance.

Economy section

Gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, GDP by economic sectors, employment, and national budget data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org). Monetary unit, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, exports, imports, and major trade partner information is from the latest Europa World Yearbook and various International Monetary Fund (IMF) publications.

Energy, Communication, and Transportation section

Electricity information is from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) database (www.eia.doe.gov). Radio, telephone, television, and newspaper information is from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org). Internet hosts, motor vehicles, and road data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org).

Note

Figures may not total 100 per cent due to rounding.