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Population in Kenya compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 2.21 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 1.03% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Kenya vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya North Korea
2100 105,238,162 19,604,631
2099 105,257,438 19,733,548
2098 105,257,489 19,862,949
2097 105,250,948 19,993,288
2096 105,220,085 20,124,518
2095 105,175,623 20,256,401
2094 105,118,372 20,388,156
2093 105,046,907 20,520,253
2092 104,955,024 20,652,961
2091 104,846,805 20,785,785
2090 104,718,130 20,918,305
2089 104,573,271 21,050,580
2088 104,414,197 21,182,325
2087 104,243,505 21,314,047
2086 104,056,143 21,445,329
2085 103,854,891 21,575,835
2084 103,640,244 21,705,777
2083 103,407,124 21,835,029
2082 103,158,580 21,964,199
2081 102,889,291 22,092,862
2080 102,594,978 22,220,948
2079 102,286,967 22,348,577
2078 101,961,280 22,475,755
2077 101,613,181 22,602,817
2076 101,239,843 22,729,499
2075 100,849,423 22,856,369
2074 100,436,632 22,983,784
2073 100,001,277 23,111,441
2072 99,533,234 23,239,261
2071 99,042,264 23,367,583
2070 98,529,166 23,496,136
2069 97,992,232 23,625,538
2068 97,428,138 23,755,136
2067 96,842,744 23,884,879
2066 96,230,345 24,015,027
2065 95,598,937 24,144,985
2064 94,942,874 24,274,257
2063 94,266,124 24,402,439
2062 93,561,519 24,529,941
2061 92,837,768 24,656,350
2060 92,098,717 24,780,911
2059 91,343,602 24,903,037
2058 90,569,828 25,023,260
2057 89,783,087 25,140,523
2056 88,994,126 25,255,342
2055 88,192,182 25,366,397
2054 87,379,992 25,474,292
2053 86,552,281 25,578,870
2052 85,710,403 25,679,963
2051 84,850,558 25,777,639
2050 83,976,685 25,871,673
2049 83,090,517 25,962,167
2048 82,191,119 26,048,593
2047 81,274,836 26,131,429
2046 80,340,592 26,210,487
2045 79,389,433 26,286,208
2044 78,414,158 26,358,331
2043 77,418,567 26,427,062
2042 76,399,781 26,491,482
2041 75,363,853 26,552,564
2040 74,308,480 26,609,557
2039 73,241,028 26,661,815
2038 72,153,876 26,708,400
2037 71,058,753 26,749,134
2036 69,949,421 26,783,304
2035 68,831,151 26,810,026
2034 67,705,051 26,828,912
2033 66,569,532 26,839,229
2032 65,431,402 26,840,944
2031 64,289,540 26,832,957
2030 63,153,520 26,814,812
2029 62,021,378 26,787,117
2028 60,894,078 26,749,227
2027 59,770,115 26,701,444
2026 58,653,621 26,643,460
2025 57,540,609 26,575,953
2024 56,432,944 26,498,823
2023 55,339,003 26,418,204
2022 54,252,461 26,328,845
2021 53,219,166 26,232,534
2020 52,217,334 26,136,312
2019 51,202,827 26,037,632
2018 50,207,107 25,931,147
2017 49,197,766 25,817,709
2016 48,139,687 25,698,326
2015 47,088,526 25,575,350
2014 46,051,440 25,451,262
2013 44,986,791 25,329,451
2012 43,888,303 25,211,728
2011 42,758,461 25,097,874
2010 41,598,567 24,987,258
2009 40,408,891 24,878,332
2008 39,206,351 24,764,618
2007 38,036,349 24,646,383
2006 36,904,008 24,524,507
2005 35,796,484 24,396,433
2004 34,713,455 24,254,943
2003 33,652,223 24,090,380
2002 32,629,808 23,943,973
2001 31,619,170 23,815,358
2000 30,642,890 23,665,910
1999 29,733,408 23,497,599
1998 28,888,057 23,311,564
1997 28,101,768 23,110,830
1996 27,344,211 22,895,746
1995 26,601,751 22,669,304
1994 25,857,130 22,393,975
1993 25,117,188 22,073,352
1992 24,382,460 21,750,911
1991 23,646,514 21,428,638
1990 22,892,651 21,112,137
1989 22,118,434 20,804,367
1988 21,356,219 20,503,161
1987 20,616,096 20,205,483
1986 19,901,646 19,910,855
1985 19,201,768 19,620,388
1984 18,514,906 19,335,043
1983 17,846,374 19,054,034
1982 17,206,175 18,776,357
1981 16,601,507 18,501,295
1980 16,018,459 18,236,786
1979 15,460,666 17,983,470
1978 14,934,126 17,735,995
1977 14,428,819 17,492,798
1976 13,957,623 17,243,450
1975 13,511,671 16,971,055
1974 13,070,078 16,673,121
1973 12,634,835 16,350,367
1972 12,206,060 15,975,069
1971 11,788,904 15,572,457
1970 11,368,791 15,172,775
1969 10,939,695 14,767,615
1968 10,518,823 14,365,596
1967 10,111,057 13,958,350
1966 9,717,816 13,569,094
1965 9,338,078 13,219,369
1964 8,973,535 12,889,770
1963 8,627,971 12,567,057
1962 8,299,308 12,262,882
1961 7,987,770 11,990,713
1960 7,695,307 11,722,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Kenya's population will grow by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya North Korea
2100 -0.02% -0.65%
2099 -0% -0.65%
2098 0.006% -0.65%
2097 0.03% -0.65%
2096 0.04% -0.65%
2095 0.05% -0.65%
2094 0.07% -0.64%
2093 0.09% -0.64%
2092 0.1% -0.64%
2091 0.12% -0.63%
2090 0.14% -0.63%
2089 0.15% -0.62%
2088 0.16% -0.62%
2087 0.18% -0.61%
2086 0.19% -0.6%
2085 0.21% -0.6%
2084 0.23% -0.59%
2083 0.24% -0.59%
2082 0.26% -0.58%
2081 0.29% -0.58%
2080 0.3% -0.57%
2079 0.32% -0.57%
2078 0.34% -0.56%
2077 0.37% -0.56%
2076 0.39% -0.56%
2075 0.41% -0.55%
2074 0.44% -0.55%
2073 0.47% -0.55%
2072 0.5% -0.55%
2071 0.52% -0.55%
2070 0.55% -0.55%
2069 0.58% -0.55%
2068 0.6% -0.54%
2067 0.64% -0.54%
2066 0.66% -0.54%
2065 0.69% -0.53%
2064 0.72% -0.53%
2063 0.75% -0.52%
2062 0.78% -0.51%
2061 0.8% -0.5%
2060 0.83% -0.49%
2059 0.85% -0.48%
2058 0.88% -0.47%
2057 0.89% -0.45%
2056 0.91% -0.44%
2055 0.93% -0.42%
2054 0.96% -0.41%
2053 0.98% -0.39%
2052 1.01% -0.38%
2051 1.04% -0.36%
2050 1.07% -0.35%
2049 1.09% -0.33%
2048 1.13% -0.32%
2047 1.16% -0.3%
2046 1.2% -0.29%
2045 1.24% -0.27%
2044 1.29% -0.26%
2043 1.33% -0.24%
2042 1.37% -0.23%
2041 1.42% -0.21%
2040 1.46% -0.2%
2039 1.51% -0.17%
2038 1.54% -0.15%
2037 1.59% -0.13%
2036 1.62% -0.1%
2035 1.66% -0.07%
2034 1.71% -0.04%
2033 1.74% -0.006%
2032 1.78% 0.03%
2031 1.8% 0.07%
2030 1.83% 0.1%
2029 1.85% 0.14%
2028 1.88% 0.18%
2027 1.9% 0.22%
2026 1.93% 0.25%
2025 1.96% 0.29%
2024 1.98% 0.31%
2023 2% 0.34%
2022 1.94% 0.37%
2021 1.92% 0.37%
2020 1.98% 0.38%
2019 1.98% 0.41%
2018 2.05% 0.44%
2017 2.2% 0.46%
2016 2.23% 0.48%
2015 2.25% 0.49%
2014 2.37% 0.48%
2013 2.5% 0.47%
2012 2.64% 0.45%
2011 2.79% 0.44%
2010 2.94% 0.44%
2009 3.07% 0.46%
2008 3.08% 0.48%
2007 3.07% 0.5%
2006 3.09% 0.52%
2005 3.12% 0.58%
2004 3.15% 0.68%
2003 3.13% 0.61%
2002 3.2% 0.54%
2001 3.19% 0.63%
2000 3.06% 0.72%
1999 2.93% 0.8%
1998 2.8% 0.87%
1997 2.77% 0.94%
1996 2.79% 1%
1995 2.88% 1.23%
1994 2.95% 1.45%
1993 3.01% 1.48%
1992 3.11% 1.5%
1991 3.29% 1.5%
1990 3.5% 1.48%
1989 3.57% 1.47%
1988 3.59% 1.47%
1987 3.59% 1.48%
1986 3.64% 1.48%
1985 3.71% 1.48%
1984 3.75% 1.47%
1983 3.72% 1.48%
1982 3.64% 1.49%
1981 3.64% 1.45%
1980 3.61% 1.41%
1979 3.53% 1.4%
1978 3.5% 1.39%
1977 3.38% 1.45%
1976 3.3% 1.61%
1975 3.38% 1.79%
1974 3.44% 1.97%
1973 3.51% 2.35%
1972 3.54% 2.59%
1971 3.7% 2.63%
1970 3.92% 2.74%
1969 4% 2.8%
1968 4.03% 2.92%
1967 4.05% 2.87%
1966 4.07% 2.65%
1965 4.06% 2.56%
1964 4.01% 2.57%
1963 3.96% 2.48%
1962 3.9% 2.27%
1961 3.8% 2.28%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Kenya North Korea
Current population
58955623
26659144
Population rank 25/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.32%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +221
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 150/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -27,330 -2,787
Net migration rank 160/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - -2,787
2024 - -19,781 - -2,473
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 86,203 -1,997
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 96,495 -1,997
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 99,710 -1,585
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 95,920 -1,585
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 106,208 -3,142
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 113,164 -3,225
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 120,181 -3,224
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 125,048 -3,222
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 127,365 -3,208
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 127,078 -3,042
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 122,519 -2,933
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 118,773 -2,919
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 114,798 -2,957
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 112,443 -3,053
2009 1,193,598 7,096 111,530 -3,058
2008 1,174,818 29,612 122,015 -3,051
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 120,521 -3,021
2006 1,113,357 15,767 129,171 -2,948
2005 1,080,446 5,501 132,765 -2,861
2004 1,048,590 31,525 155,838 -2,758
2003 1,018,182 24,175 178,775 -2,717
2002 992,044 10,431 119,504 -2,763
2001 963,721 55,052 143,321 -2,884
2000 928,357 5,407 161,591 -3,142
1999 898,484 -13,257 181,613 -3,443
1998 875,511 -70,023 197,589 -3,706
1997 847,493 -80,443 211,325 -3,745
1996 827,326 -79,276 226,095 -3,512
1995 812,391 -75,506 233,381 -3,094
1994 792,702 -40,367 320,861 -517
1993 788,579 -61,054 320,880 0
1992 785,018 -43,085 324,002 0
1991 790,030 -60,087 320,551 0
1990 789,087 -11,338 312,460 0
1989 795,622 -24,949 303,078 0
1988 785,652 -31,894 299,305 0
1987 775,124 -48,633 296,030 0
1986 755,606 -53,183 293,227 0
1985 732,739 -35,400 287,714 0
1984 709,639 -33,253 282,987 0
1983 684,587 -23,905 279,046 0
1982 663,109 -43,382 276,332 0
1981 642,379 -52,761 273,800 0
1980 616,390 -39,920 255,206 0
1979 595,390 -56,280 251,409 0
1978 574,695 -60,718 243,533 0
1977 554,124 -57,493 242,870 0
1976 536,740 -90,990 255,841 0
1975 517,579 -71,421 288,966 0
1974 500,008 -62,973 306,902 0
1973 485,556 -52,102 338,600 0
1972 472,557 -48,466 411,997 0
1971 459,897 -49,671 393,220 0
1970 443,065 -13,064 406,129 0
1969 427,819 369 404,189 0
1968 411,948 1,611 399,837 0
1967 396,920 5,060 414,632 0
1966 382,891 1,616 363,882 0
1965 366,444 8,524 335,587 0
1964 349,322 4,788 323,623 0
1963 332,763 4,246 321,805 0
1962 315,797 4,521 286,534 0
1961 298,463 4,296 257,788 0
1960 280,032 2,134 277,717 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 95.3% of the population change in Kenya is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 people). In North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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