Kenya birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Kenya has a birth rate of 27.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 3.21 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Kenya was 7.65 children per woman — 2.38 times higher than in 2023.

Kenya birth rate statistics:

Kenya is ranked 43/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 3/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Kenya is 20.3 — it was 20.3 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.2, a change from 29 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 174 in 1960 to 56.3 in 2023.
26.4% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.5% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Kenya by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	3.21	51
2022	3.26	50
2021	3.31	50
2020	3.36	49
2019	3.43	49
2018	3.54	49
2017	3.61	49
2016	3.69	49
2015	3.77	50
2014	3.84	50
2013	3.96	50
2012	4.12	47
2011	4.28	45
2010	4.45	42
2009	4.57	40
2008	4.66	40
2007	4.72	39
2006	4.75	39
2005	4.8	40
2004	4.86	40
2003	4.94	40
2002	5.03	40
2001	5.09	41
2000	5.14	41
1999	5.18	41
1998	5.24	41
1997	5.27	41
1996	5.31	41
1995	5.37	41
1994	5.44	44
1993	5.57	45
1992	5.74	43
1991	5.94	41
1990	6.14	36
1989	6.33	32
1988	6.52	26
1987	6.69	23
1986	6.84	22
1985	6.96	20
1984	7.08	16
1983	7.22	15
1982	7.35	9
1981	7.45	9
1980	7.53	8
1979	7.6	8
1978	7.67	6
1977	7.73	6
1976	7.77	6
1975	7.8	7
1974	7.82	7
1973	7.86	7
1972	7.89	7
1971	7.92	7
1970	7.94	6
1969	7.95	6
1968	7.95	6
1967	7.95	5
1966	7.96	5
1965	7.92	5
1964	7.87	5
1963	7.82	5
1962	7.77	5
1961	7.72	6
1960	7.65	6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Kenya is 3.21, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.57 — a 42.4% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	1,100,970	1,500,019	399,049
2022	1,092,102	1,483,370	391,268
2021	1,037,082	1,469,434	432,352
2020	1,036,253	1,450,701	414,448
2019	1,071,777	1,445,250	373,473
2018	1,097,075	1,457,863	360,788
2017	1,105,769	1,456,352	350,583
2016	1,108,801	1,453,914	345,113
2015	1,119,200	1,455,412	336,212
2014	1,123,333	1,452,554	329,221
2013	1,136,006	1,458,786	322,780
2012	1,161,548	1,477,894	316,346
2011	1,185,863	1,496,930	311,067
2010	1,199,786	1,508,613	308,827
2009	1,193,598	1,501,958	308,360
2008	1,174,818	1,483,999	309,181
2007	1,147,063	1,456,754	309,691
2006	1,113,357	1,420,509	307,152
2005	1,080,446	1,388,295	307,849
2004	1,048,590	1,357,296	308,706
2003	1,018,182	1,327,883	309,701
2002	992,044	1,303,169	311,125
2001	963,721	1,270,711	306,990
2000	928,357	1,233,008	304,651
1999	898,484	1,199,059	300,575
1998	875,511	1,173,346	297,835
1997	847,493	1,139,273	291,780
1996	827,326	1,111,049	283,723
1995	812,391	1,086,176	273,785
1994	792,702	1,056,574	263,872
1993	788,579	1,040,278	251,699
1992	785,018	1,025,965	240,947
1991	790,030	1,018,006	227,976
1990	789,087	1,005,674	216,587
1989	795,622	992,852	197,230
1988	785,652	973,800	188,148
1987	775,124	954,401	179,277
1986	755,606	928,352	172,746
1985	732,739	899,794	167,055
1984	709,639	873,162	163,523
1983	684,587	845,132	160,545
1982	663,109	822,334	159,225
1981	642,379	799,794	157,415
1980	616,390	772,265	155,875
1979	595,390	750,785	155,395
1978	574,695	729,606	154,911
1977	554,124	709,190	155,066
1976	536,740	692,200	155,460
1975	517,579	673,219	155,640
1974	500,008	656,117	156,109
1973	485,556	641,912	156,356
1972	472,557	628,770	156,213
1971	459,897	615,663	155,766
1970	443,065	597,316	154,251
1969	427,819	580,449	152,630
1968	411,948	562,956	151,008
1967	396,920	546,553	149,633
1966	382,891	530,864	147,973
1965	366,444	512,865	146,421
1964	349,322	494,594	145,272
1963	332,763	477,031	144,268
1962	315,797	459,590	143,793
1961	298,463	442,402	143,939
1960	280,032	424,657	144,625

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Kenya (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.16% annually. On average, 1,089,236 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.99% — 1,100,970 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Kenya ranks 18/196 for absolute natural population change and 46/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Kenya compared to other countries

	Kenya	Rank
Fertility rate	3.21	51/196
Birth rate	27.1	43/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+1,100,970	18/196
Natural population change rate	+1.99%	46/196
Population growth	+1.98%	53/197
Age at first childbirth	20.3 years	110/137
Average age at childbearing	28.2 years	154/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	51.6	67/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	168.5	43/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	46.4	48/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	26.4%	34/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	56.9%	50/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	70.2%	164/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.15%	50/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.15%	41/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	3.47%	37/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	3.99%	41/192
Life expectancy	64.2 years	177/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	52.7	51.6	168.5	46.4
2025	53.2	53.3	170.2	47.4
2024	53.5	55.1	171.8	48.5
2023	53.8	57	173	49.6
2022	54.3	58	175.5	50.9
2021	54.8	60.3	177.5	52
2020	55.2	60.2	179.9	53.2
2019	56	64.6	181.7	54.6
2018	57.6	67.7	186.9	56.7
2017	58.8	69.3	192.6	57.5
2016	59.9	75	195.9	58.3
2015	61.3	83.1	196.9	60
2014	62.6	91.3	197.1	61.8
2013	64.3	96.9	200.3	64.5
2012	66.8	101.4	206.1	68.3
2011	69.4	105.7	212.3	72.5
2010	71.8	109.6	218	76.5
2009	73.6	110.9	223	79.5
2008	74.8	112.9	226.5	81.7
2007	75.6	114.2	228.5	83.2
2006	76	113.8	231.6	83.8
2005	76.5	116.5	233.2	84.6
2004	77	119.7	235.3	85.5
2003	77.7	120.7	238.1	87.3
2002	78.5	122.5	241.9	89
2001	78.9	125.3	245.1	89.6
2000	79.1	123.2	248.9	90.2
1999	79.2	124.1	250.9	90.4
1998	79.7	124.4	253.4	91.5
1997	79.5	123.1	254.3	91.8
1996	79.7	124.2	256.8	91.5
1995	80.1	122.1	262.5	91.5
1994	80.1	122.6	264	92.2
1993	81.2	124.5	268.7	93.9
1992	82.4	128.4	271.6	97.2
1991	84.3	132.2	278.9	100.1
1990	86.1	135.6	289	101.5
1989	87.8	138.7	298.1	103.5
1988	89.2	140.9	305	105.7
1987	90.5	143.8	311	108
1986	91	142.9	314	111.4
1985	91.3	147.5	315	113.8
1984	91.8	150.5	318	115.8
1983	92.1	149.6	322	118.9
1982	93	156.8	324	121.9
1981	93.7	164.5	323	125.5
1980	93.7	163.4	326	128.5
1979	94.3	167.1	328	131.2
1978	94.8	168.7	330	133.9
1977	95.4	171.3	330	137.2
1976	96.2	173.4	329	140.5
1975	96.6	171.7	329	143.6
1974	97.4	172.3	329	146.3
1973	98.4	177.7	328	148.9
1972	99.6	183.5	326	151.5
1971	100.9	185.4	325	153.8
1970	101.5	178.5	326	156.3
1969	102.4	180.1	329	156.2
1968	103.4	181.8	328	156.9
1967	104.5	182.7	328	157.2
1966	105.5	180.7	328	157.6
1965	106.1	177	327	156.5
1964	106.5	177	325	154.6
1963	106.7	179.3	321	152.5
1962	106.9	177.7	318	150.7
1961	106.9	178.7	314	148.7
1960	106.6	175.3	311	146.6

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Kenya by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 11.1% will be to women under age 20, 59% to women ages 20-29, and 29.9% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 17.7%, 55.7%, and 26.6%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Kenya	World
2100	18.9%	16.5%
2099	19%	16.6%
2098	19.1%	16.6%
2097	19.2%	16.7%
2096	19.3%	16.8%
2095	19.5%	16.8%
2094	19.6%	16.9%
2093	19.7%	17%
2092	19.8%	17%
2091	19.9%	17.1%
2090	20%	17.2%
2089	20.1%	17.2%
2088	20.2%	17.3%
2087	20.4%	17.4%
2086	20.5%	17.4%
2085	20.7%	17.5%
2084	20.8%	17.5%
2083	21%	17.6%
2082	21.1%	17.7%
2081	21.3%	17.7%
2080	21.5%	17.8%
2079	21.7%	17.8%
2078	21.9%	17.9%
2077	22.1%	17.9%
2076	22.3%	18%
2075	22.5%	18%
2074	22.7%	18.1%
2073	22.9%	18.2%
2072	23.1%	18.2%
2071	23.3%	18.3%
2070	23.5%	18.3%
2069	23.7%	18.4%
2068	23.8%	18.5%
2067	24%	18.6%
2066	24.2%	18.6%
2065	24.4%	18.7%
2064	24.6%	18.8%
2063	24.8%	18.9%
2062	25%	19.1%
2061	25.2%	19.2%
2060	25.4%	19.3%
2059	25.6%	19.4%
2058	25.9%	19.5%
2057	26.1%	19.6%
2056	26.4%	19.8%
2055	26.7%	19.9%
2054	27%	20%
2053	27.3%	20.1%
2052	27.6%	20.2%
2051	28%	20.3%
2050	28.4%	20.4%
2049	28.7%	20.5%
2048	29.1%	20.6%
2047	29.5%	20.7%
2046	29.8%	20.8%
2045	30.2%	20.9%
2044	30.6%	20.9%
2043	30.9%	21%
2042	31.2%	21.1%
2041	31.5%	21.2%
2040	31.8%	21.2%
2039	32.1%	21.3%
2038	32.4%	21.4%
2037	32.6%	21.5%
2036	32.8%	21.6%
2035	33%	21.8%
2034	33.3%	22%
2033	33.5%	22.2%
2032	33.8%	22.4%
2031	34%	22.7%
2030	34.4%	23%
2029	34.7%	23.3%
2028	35%	23.6%
2027	35.5%	23.9%
2026	36%	24.2%
2025	36.5%	24.6%
2024	36.8%	24.7%
2023	37.4%	25%
2022	38.1%	25.3%
2021	38.7%	25.6%
2020	39.3%	25.8%
2019	39.9%	26%
2018	40.5%	26.2%
2017	41%	26.4%
2016	41.5%	26.5%
2015	42%	26.6%
2014	42.4%	26.8%
2013	42.8%	26.9%
2012	43.2%	27%
2011	43.4%	27.1%
2010	43.6%	27.3%
2009	43.8%	27.5%
2008	43.9%	27.6%
2007	44%	27.9%
2006	44.2%	28.1%
2005	44.4%	28.5%
2004	44.6%	28.8%
2003	45%	29.2%
2002	45.3%	29.6%
2001	45.7%	30%
2000	46.1%	30.4%
1999	46.5%	30.8%
1998	46.8%	31.1%
1997	47.1%	31.5%
1996	47.4%	31.8%
1995	47.7%	32.1%
1994	48%	32.3%
1993	48.4%	32.5%
1992	48.7%	32.7%
1991	48.9%	32.9%
1990	49.2%	33%
1989	49.5%	33.2%
1988	49.7%	33.4%
1987	49.9%	33.6%
1986	50.1%	33.8%
1985	50.3%	34%
1984	50.6%	34.3%
1983	50.8%	34.6%
1982	51.1%	34.9%
1981	51.3%	35.2%
1980	51.5%	35.5%
1979	51.7%	35.9%
1978	51.9%	36.3%
1977	52%	36.7%
1976	52.1%	36.9%
1975	52%	37.1%
1974	52%	37.2%
1973	52%	37.3%
1972	51.9%	37.5%
1971	51.7%	37.6%
1970	51.6%	37.7%
1969	51.4%	37.8%
1968	51.2%	37.9%
1967	50.9%	38%
1966	50.6%	38%
1965	50.2%	38%
1964	49.8%	38%
1963	49.7%	37.8%
1962	49.4%	37.6%
1961	49.1%	37.5%
1960	48.7%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Kenya was 48.7% in 1960, 48.7% in 1992, and 36.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Kenya.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Kenya	World
2023	149	197
2022	155	203
2021	183	242
2020	184	211
2019	176	207
2018	183	211
2017	186	215
2016	196	220
2015	203	228
2014	203	231
2013	206	235
2012	214	239
2011	209	247
2010	210	253
2009	208	258
2008	197	264
2007	198	269
2006	188	276
2005	178	283
2004	177	291
2003	177	301
2002	182	311
2001	188	321
2000	206	328
1999	217	340
1998	250	360
1997	253	358
1996	275	366
1995	308	371
1994	342	382
1993	363	389
1992	419	395
1991	493	395
1990	586	391
1989	663	401
1988	756	414
1987	960	429
1986	1,059	438
1985	1,375	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Kenya was 149 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.15% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 27.7% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Kenya	World
2023	3.99%	2.49%
2022	4.11%	2.59%
2021	4.19%	2.66%
2020	4.28%	2.75%
2019	4.33%	2.86%
2018	4.43%	2.97%
2017	4.53%	3.11%
2016	4.6%	3.22%
2015	4.74%	3.35%
2014	4.88%	3.48%
2013	5%	3.61%
2012	5.12%	3.77%
2011	5.22%	3.97%
2010	5.35%	4.11%
2009	5.54%	4.31%
2008	5.82%	4.5%
2007	6.32%	4.7%
2006	6.71%	4.92%
2005	7.15%	5.16%
2004	7.66%	5.43%
2003	8.16%	5.65%
2002	8.66%	5.94%
2001	9.16%	6.21%
2000	9.63%	6.48%
1999	10.1%	6.75%
1998	10.4%	7.05%
1997	10.7%	7.28%
1996	10.9%	7.52%
1995	11%	7.76%
1994	11%	7.98%
1993	10.9%	8.19%
1992	10.7%	8.46%
1991	10.5%	8.66%
1990	10.1%	8.81%
1989	9.85%	9.02%
1988	9.63%	9.31%
1987	9.51%	9.47%
1986	9.49%	9.81%
1985	9.57%	10.1%
1984	9.74%	10.4%
1983	9.98%	10.6%
1982	10.3%	10.8%
1981	10.6%	11%
1980	11%	11.4%
1979	11.4%	11.7%
1978	11.8%	12.2%
1977	12.2%	12.6%
1976	12.7%	13%
1975	13.1%	13.4%
1974	13.5%	13.8%
1973	14%	14.1%
1972	14.3%	14.5%
1971	14.7%	15.1%
1970	15%	15.2%
1969	15.4%	15.4%
1968	15.7%	15.6%
1967	16%	15.9%
1966	16.3%	16.1%
1965	16.6%	16.4%
1964	17%	16.6%
1963	17.5%	16.5%
1962	18.1%	16.7%
1961	18.8%	17%
1960	19.6%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Kenya was 39.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 3.99% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 96.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.