Fertility & birth rates in Kenya and United States

Fertility rate in Kenya vs United States by year

Chart Table

Kenya

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Kenya	United States
2023	3.21	1.62
2022	3.26	1.66
2021	3.31	1.66
2020	3.36	1.64
2019	3.43	1.71
2018	3.54	1.73
2017	3.61	1.77
2016	3.69	1.82
2015	3.77	1.84
2014	3.84	1.86
2013	3.96	1.86
2012	4.12	1.88
2011	4.28	1.89
2010	4.45	1.93
2009	4.57	2
2008	4.66	2.07
2007	4.72	2.12
2006	4.75	2.11
2005	4.8	2.06
2004	4.86	2.05
2003	4.94	2.05
2002	5.03	2.02
2001	5.09	2.03
2000	5.14	2.06
1999	5.18	2.01
1998	5.24	2
1997	5.27	1.97
1996	5.31	1.98
1995	5.37	1.98
1994	5.44	2
1993	5.57	2.02
1992	5.74	2.05
1991	5.94	2.06
1990	6.14	2.08
1989	6.33	2.01
1988	6.52	1.93
1987	6.69	1.87
1986	6.84	1.84
1985	6.96	1.84
1984	7.08	1.81
1983	7.22	1.8
1982	7.35	1.83
1981	7.45	1.81
1980	7.53	1.84
1979	7.6	1.81
1978	7.67	1.76
1977	7.73	1.79
1976	7.77	1.74
1975	7.8	1.77
1974	7.82	1.84
1973	7.86	1.88
1972	7.89	2.01
1971	7.92	2.27
1970	7.94	2.48
1969	7.95	2.46
1968	7.95	2.46
1967	7.95	2.56
1966	7.96	2.72
1965	7.92	2.91
1964	7.87	3.19
1963	7.82	3.32
1962	7.77	3.46
1961	7.72	3.62
1960	7.65	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Kenya was 3.21 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Kenya vs the United States population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Kenya

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Kenya	United States
2023	1,100,970	502,372
2022	1,092,102	399,926
2021	1,037,082	199,137
2020	1,036,253	208,862
2019	1,071,777	887,476
2018	1,097,075	955,022
2017	1,105,769	1,028,037
2016	1,108,801	1,197,627
2015	1,119,200	1,270,126
2014	1,123,333	1,357,281
2013	1,136,006	1,322,711
2012	1,161,548	1,411,822
2011	1,185,863	1,441,697
2010	1,199,786	1,548,182
2009	1,193,598	1,717,920
2008	1,174,818	1,794,154
2007	1,147,063	1,897,757
2006	1,113,357	1,849,955
2005	1,080,446	1,684,445
2004	1,048,590	1,698,271
2003	1,018,182	1,653,615
2002	992,044	1,581,938
2001	963,721	1,595,826
2000	928,357	1,664,758
1999	898,484	1,564,050
1998	875,511	1,573,857
1997	847,493	1,501,014
1996	827,326	1,510,137
1995	812,391	1,546,031
1994	792,702	1,633,302
1993	788,579	1,717,685
1992	785,018	1,875,328
1991	790,030	1,926,543
1990	789,087	2,026,068
1989	795,622	1,875,826
1988	785,652	1,735,943
1987	775,124	1,720,252
1986	755,606	1,656,917
1985	732,739	1,689,258
1984	709,639	1,627,192
1983	684,587	1,636,544
1982	663,109	1,714,317
1981	642,379	1,652,153
1980	616,390	1,608,450
1979	595,390	1,597,894
1978	574,695	1,402,283
1977	554,124	1,431,556
1976	536,740	1,264,604
1975	517,579	1,252,644
1974	500,008	1,218,968
1973	485,556	1,165,499
1972	472,557	1,301,355
1971	459,897	1,640,519
1970	443,065	1,824,965
1969	427,819	1,702,487
1968	411,948	1,565,507
1967	396,920	1,669,181
1966	382,891	1,749,387
1965	366,444	1,943,030
1964	349,322	2,245,099
1963	332,763	2,289,826
1962	315,797	2,406,337
1961	298,463	2,571,681
1960	280,032	2,565,530

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +1.99% in Kenya and +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.16% in Kenya and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Kenya vs United States by year

Chart Table

Kenya

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Kenya	United States
2023	27.1	10.7
2022	27.3	11
2021	27.6	11
2020	27.8	10.9
2019	28.2	11.4
2018	29	11.6
2017	29.6	11.8
2016	30.2	12.2
2015	30.9	12.4
2014	31.5	12.5
2013	32.4	12.4
2012	33.7	12.6
2011	35	12.7
2010	36.3	13
2009	37.2	13.5
2008	37.9	14
2007	38.3	14.3
2006	38.5	14.3
2005	38.8	14
2004	39.1	14
2003	39.5	14.1
2002	39.9	14
2001	40.2	14.1
2000	40.2	14.4
1999	40.3	14.2
1998	40.6	14.3
1997	40.5	14.2
1996	40.6	14.4
1995	40.8	14.6
1994	40.9	15
1993	41.4	15.4
1992	42.1	15.8
1991	43.1	16.2
1990	43.9	16.7
1989	44.9	16.4
1988	45.6	16
1987	46.3	15.7
1986	46.6	15.6
1985	46.9	15.8
1984	47.2	15.6
1983	47.4	15.6
1982	47.8	15.9
1981	48.2	15.8
1980	48.2	15.9
1979	48.6	15.6
1978	48.9	15
1977	49.2	15.1
1976	49.6	14.6
1975	49.8	14.6
1974	50.2	14.8
1973	50.8	14.8
1972	51.5	15.6
1971	52.2	17.2
1970	52.5	18.4
1969	53.1	17.9
1968	53.5	17.6
1967	54.1	17.8
1966	54.6	18.4
1965	54.9	19.4
1964	55.1	21.1
1963	55.3	21.7
1962	55.4	22.4
1961	55.4	23.3
1960	55.2	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 27.1 in Kenya and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 55.2 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Kenya

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Kenya	United States
2100	18.9%	14.4%
2099	19%	14.4%
2098	19.1%	14.4%
2097	19.2%	14.4%
2096	19.3%	14.4%
2095	19.5%	14.5%
2094	19.6%	14.5%
2093	19.7%	14.5%
2092	19.8%	14.5%
2091	19.9%	14.6%
2090	20%	14.6%
2089	20.1%	14.7%
2088	20.2%	14.7%
2087	20.4%	14.7%
2086	20.5%	14.8%
2085	20.7%	14.8%
2084	20.8%	14.8%
2083	21%	14.9%
2082	21.1%	14.9%
2081	21.3%	14.9%
2080	21.5%	14.9%
2079	21.7%	14.9%
2078	21.9%	14.9%
2077	22.1%	14.9%
2076	22.3%	14.9%
2075	22.5%	14.9%
2074	22.7%	14.9%
2073	22.9%	14.9%
2072	23.1%	14.9%
2071	23.3%	14.9%
2070	23.5%	14.9%
2069	23.7%	14.9%
2068	23.8%	14.9%
2067	24%	14.9%
2066	24.2%	14.9%
2065	24.4%	15%
2064	24.6%	15%
2063	24.8%	15%
2062	25%	15.1%
2061	25.2%	15.1%
2060	25.4%	15.2%
2059	25.6%	15.3%
2058	25.9%	15.4%
2057	26.1%	15.5%
2056	26.4%	15.5%
2055	26.7%	15.6%
2054	27%	15.7%
2053	27.3%	15.8%
2052	27.6%	15.8%
2051	28%	15.9%
2050	28.4%	15.9%
2049	28.7%	16%
2048	29.1%	16%
2047	29.5%	16%
2046	29.8%	16%
2045	30.2%	16%
2044	30.6%	16%
2043	30.9%	16%
2042	31.2%	16%
2041	31.5%	15.9%
2040	31.8%	15.9%
2039	32.1%	15.9%
2038	32.4%	15.9%
2037	32.6%	15.9%
2036	32.8%	15.9%
2035	33%	15.9%
2034	33.3%	15.9%
2033	33.5%	16%
2032	33.8%	16.1%
2031	34%	16.2%
2030	34.4%	16.3%
2029	34.7%	16.5%
2028	35%	16.6%
2027	35.5%	16.8%
2026	36%	17%
2025	36.5%	17.2%
2024	36.8%	17.3%
2023	37.4%	17.6%
2022	38.1%	17.9%
2021	38.7%	18.1%
2020	39.3%	18.4%
2019	39.9%	18.6%
2018	40.5%	18.8%
2017	41%	18.9%
2016	41.5%	19.1%
2015	42%	19.2%
2014	42.4%	19.3%
2013	42.8%	19.4%
2012	43.2%	19.5%
2011	43.4%	19.6%
2010	43.6%	19.7%
2009	43.8%	19.8%
2008	43.9%	19.9%
2007	44%	20%
2006	44.2%	20.2%
2005	44.4%	20.3%
2004	44.6%	20.5%
2003	45%	20.7%
2002	45.3%	20.9%
2001	45.7%	21%
2000	46.1%	21.2%
1999	46.5%	21.3%
1998	46.8%	21.4%
1997	47.1%	21.5%
1996	47.4%	21.7%
1995	47.7%	21.8%
1994	48%	21.9%
1993	48.4%	21.9%
1992	48.7%	21.8%
1991	48.9%	21.7%
1990	49.2%	21.6%
1989	49.5%	21.5%
1988	49.7%	21.3%
1987	49.9%	21.3%
1986	50.1%	21.3%
1985	50.3%	21.5%
1984	50.6%	21.7%
1983	50.8%	21.8%
1982	51.1%	22%
1981	51.3%	22.1%
1980	51.5%	22.4%
1979	51.7%	22.8%
1978	51.9%	23.2%
1977	52%	23.8%
1976	52.1%	24.4%
1975	52%	25.2%
1974	52%	25.9%
1973	52%	26.6%
1972	51.9%	27.4%
1971	51.7%	28%
1970	51.6%	28.6%
1969	51.4%	29%
1968	51.2%	29.5%
1967	50.9%	30%
1966	50.6%	30.4%
1965	50.2%	30.7%
1964	49.8%	30.9%
1963	49.7%	31.1%
1962	49.4%	31.3%
1961	49.1%	31.4%
1960	48.7%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.8% of the population in Kenya and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 49.2% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Kenya and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Kenya vs United States

Chart Table

Kenya

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Kenya	United States
2023	149	17
2022	155	20
2021	183	31
2020	184	22
2019	176	18
2018	183	18
2017	186	18
2016	196	18
2015	203	17
2014	203	17
2013	206	16
2012	214	16
2011	209	15
2010	210	15
2009	208	15
2008	197	14
2007	198	13
2006	188	13
2005	178	13
2004	177	13
2003	177	13
2002	182	13
2001	188	13
2000	206	12
1999	217	12
1998	250	11
1997	253	11
1996	275	11
1995	308	12
1994	342	11
1993	363	12
1992	419	11
1991	493	12
1990	586	12
1989	663	12
1988	756	12
1987	960	11
1986	1,059	11
1985	1,375	11

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 149 deaths per 100,000 live births in Kenya, compared to 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Kenya

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Kenya	United States
2023	3.99%	0.65%
2022	4.11%	0.65%
2021	4.19%	0.65%
2020	4.28%	0.65%
2019	4.33%	0.65%
2018	4.43%	0.65%
2017	4.53%	0.66%
2016	4.6%	0.67%
2015	4.74%	0.68%
2014	4.88%	0.68%
2013	5%	0.69%
2012	5.12%	0.7%
2011	5.22%	0.72%
2010	5.35%	0.73%
2009	5.54%	0.75%
2008	5.82%	0.76%
2007	6.32%	0.77%
2006	6.71%	0.79%
2005	7.15%	0.8%
2004	7.66%	0.81%
2003	8.16%	0.81%
2002	8.66%	0.82%
2001	9.16%	0.83%
2000	9.63%	0.84%
1999	10.1%	0.86%
1998	10.4%	0.87%
1997	10.7%	0.89%
1996	10.9%	0.92%
1995	11%	0.95%
1994	11%	0.98%
1993	10.9%	1.01%
1992	10.7%	1.05%
1991	10.5%	1.09%
1990	10.1%	1.12%
1989	9.85%	1.16%
1988	9.63%	1.19%
1987	9.51%	1.21%
1986	9.49%	1.24%
1985	9.57%	1.27%
1984	9.74%	1.3%
1983	9.98%	1.34%
1982	10.3%	1.39%
1981	10.6%	1.44%
1980	11%	1.5%
1979	11.4%	1.56%
1978	11.8%	1.63%
1977	12.2%	1.71%
1976	12.7%	1.79%
1975	13.1%	1.88%
1974	13.5%	1.97%
1973	14%	2.06%
1972	14.3%	2.15%
1971	14.7%	2.24%
1970	15%	2.32%
1969	15.4%	2.41%
1968	15.7%	2.49%
1967	16%	2.57%
1966	16.3%	2.64%
1965	16.6%	2.71%
1964	17%	2.77%
1963	17.5%	2.83%
1962	18.1%	2.89%
1961	18.8%	2.95%
1960	19.6%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.99% in Kenya and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.