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Population in Kenya compared to Rwanda: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 3.94 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Kenya vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Rwanda
2100 105,238,162 33,092,520
2099 105,257,438 32,987,847
2098 105,257,489 32,907,335
2097 105,250,948 32,832,706
2096 105,220,085 32,747,490
2095 105,175,623 32,615,044
2094 105,118,372 32,529,590
2093 105,046,907 32,396,544
2092 104,955,024 32,274,083
2091 104,846,805 32,171,077
2090 104,718,130 32,068,626
2089 104,573,271 31,872,593
2088 104,414,197 31,726,882
2087 104,243,505 31,533,364
2086 104,056,143 31,379,315
2085 103,854,891 31,235,000
2084 103,640,244 31,092,940
2083 103,407,124 30,917,707
2082 103,158,580 30,733,578
2081 102,889,291 30,557,819
2080 102,594,978 30,367,298
2079 102,286,967 30,176,627
2078 101,961,280 29,997,866
2077 101,613,181 29,800,561
2076 101,239,843 29,627,021
2075 100,849,423 29,423,503
2074 100,436,632 29,225,643
2073 100,001,277 29,007,777
2072 99,533,234 28,780,763
2071 99,042,264 28,560,382
2070 98,529,166 28,316,533
2069 97,992,232 28,103,541
2068 97,428,138 27,854,906
2067 96,842,744 27,591,747
2066 96,230,345 27,355,659
2065 95,598,937 27,084,704
2064 94,942,874 26,821,315
2063 94,266,124 26,543,184
2062 93,561,519 26,296,132
2061 92,837,768 25,985,356
2060 92,098,717 25,712,904
2059 91,343,602 25,437,446
2058 90,569,828 25,106,242
2057 89,783,087 24,837,928
2056 88,994,126 24,566,784
2055 88,192,182 24,266,669
2054 87,379,992 23,976,914
2053 86,552,281 23,690,426
2052 85,710,403 23,406,346
2051 84,850,558 23,099,207
2050 83,976,685 22,800,250
2049 83,090,517 22,484,698
2048 82,191,119 22,157,938
2047 81,274,836 21,834,786
2046 80,340,592 21,540,566
2045 79,389,433 21,215,262
2044 78,414,158 20,902,695
2043 77,418,567 20,535,605
2042 76,399,781 20,201,608
2041 75,363,853 19,832,577
2040 74,308,480 19,463,015
2039 73,241,028 19,096,860
2038 72,153,876 18,761,626
2037 71,058,753 18,421,864
2036 69,949,421 18,116,691
2035 68,831,151 17,753,910
2034 67,705,051 17,421,234
2033 66,569,532 17,089,349
2032 65,431,402 16,811,505
2031 64,289,540 16,485,559
2030 63,153,520 16,167,916
2029 62,021,378 15,858,862
2028 60,894,078 15,544,959
2027 59,770,115 15,207,733
2026 58,653,621 14,888,776
2025 57,540,609 14,560,205
2024 56,432,944 14,256,567
2023 55,339,003 13,954,471
2022 54,252,461 13,651,030
2021 53,219,166 13,355,260
2020 52,217,334 13,065,837
2019 51,202,827 12,776,103
2018 50,207,107 12,487,996
2017 49,197,766 12,202,060
2016 48,139,687 11,919,183
2015 47,088,526 11,640,022
2014 46,051,440 11,364,757
2013 44,986,791 11,093,340
2012 43,888,303 10,829,901
2011 42,758,461 10,573,733
2010 41,598,567 10,317,553
2009 40,408,891 10,060,432
2008 39,206,351 9,804,269
2007 38,036,349 9,549,933
2006 36,904,008 9,299,246
2005 35,796,484 9,054,528
2004 34,713,455 8,816,844
2003 33,652,223 8,586,875
2002 32,629,808 8,400,180
2001 31,619,170 8,287,094
2000 30,642,890 8,213,931
1999 29,733,408 8,147,912
1998 28,888,057 8,081,681
1997 28,101,768 7,755,238
1996 27,344,211 6,708,764
1995 26,601,751 5,674,118
1994 25,857,130 6,792,352
1993 25,117,188 7,981,132
1992 24,382,460 7,683,266
1991 23,646,514 7,526,966
1990 22,892,651 7,375,307
1989 22,118,434 7,184,706
1988 21,356,219 6,968,071
1987 20,616,096 6,749,493
1986 19,901,646 6,531,881
1985 19,201,768 6,317,228
1984 18,514,906 6,107,627
1983 17,846,374 5,905,311
1982 17,206,175 5,711,549
1981 16,601,507 5,527,230
1980 16,018,459 5,353,259
1979 15,460,666 5,189,541
1978 14,934,126 5,035,171
1977 14,428,819 4,888,240
1976 13,957,623 4,745,954
1975 13,511,671 4,607,728
1974 13,070,078 4,474,228
1973 12,634,835 4,345,047
1972 12,206,060 4,220,335
1971 11,788,904 4,100,044
1970 11,368,791 3,980,669
1969 10,939,695 3,861,271
1968 10,518,823 3,744,010
1967 10,111,057 3,629,577
1966 9,717,816 3,521,626
1965 9,338,078 3,423,210
1964 8,973,535 3,334,834
1963 8,627,971 3,258,890
1962 8,299,308 3,186,025
1961 7,987,770 3,106,779
1960 7,695,307 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Rwanda
2100 -0.02% 0.32%
2099 -0% 0.24%
2098 0.006% 0.23%
2097 0.03% 0.26%
2096 0.04% 0.41%
2095 0.05% 0.26%
2094 0.07% 0.41%
2093 0.09% 0.38%
2092 0.1% 0.32%
2091 0.12% 0.32%
2090 0.14% 0.62%
2089 0.15% 0.46%
2088 0.16% 0.61%
2087 0.18% 0.49%
2086 0.19% 0.46%
2085 0.21% 0.46%
2084 0.23% 0.57%
2083 0.24% 0.6%
2082 0.26% 0.58%
2081 0.29% 0.63%
2080 0.3% 0.63%
2079 0.32% 0.6%
2078 0.34% 0.66%
2077 0.37% 0.59%
2076 0.39% 0.69%
2075 0.41% 0.68%
2074 0.44% 0.75%
2073 0.47% 0.79%
2072 0.5% 0.77%
2071 0.52% 0.86%
2070 0.55% 0.76%
2069 0.58% 0.89%
2068 0.6% 0.95%
2067 0.64% 0.86%
2066 0.66% 1%
2065 0.69% 0.98%
2064 0.72% 1.05%
2063 0.75% 0.94%
2062 0.78% 1.2%
2061 0.8% 1.06%
2060 0.83% 1.08%
2059 0.85% 1.32%
2058 0.88% 1.08%
2057 0.89% 1.1%
2056 0.91% 1.24%
2055 0.93% 1.21%
2054 0.96% 1.21%
2053 0.98% 1.21%
2052 1.01% 1.33%
2051 1.04% 1.31%
2050 1.07% 1.4%
2049 1.09% 1.47%
2048 1.13% 1.48%
2047 1.16% 1.37%
2046 1.2% 1.53%
2045 1.24% 1.5%
2044 1.29% 1.79%
2043 1.33% 1.65%
2042 1.37% 1.86%
2041 1.42% 1.9%
2040 1.46% 1.92%
2039 1.51% 1.79%
2038 1.54% 1.84%
2037 1.59% 1.68%
2036 1.62% 2.04%
2035 1.66% 1.91%
2034 1.71% 1.94%
2033 1.74% 1.65%
2032 1.78% 1.98%
2031 1.8% 1.96%
2030 1.83% 1.95%
2029 1.85% 2.02%
2028 1.88% 2.22%
2027 1.9% 2.14%
2026 1.93% 2.26%
2025 1.96% 2.13%
2024 1.98% 2.16%
2023 2% 2.22%
2022 1.94% 2.21%
2021 1.92% 2.22%
2020 1.98% 2.27%
2019 1.98% 2.31%
2018 2.05% 2.34%
2017 2.2% 2.37%
2016 2.23% 2.4%
2015 2.25% 2.42%
2014 2.37% 2.45%
2013 2.5% 2.43%
2012 2.64% 2.42%
2011 2.79% 2.48%
2010 2.94% 2.56%
2009 3.07% 2.61%
2008 3.08% 2.66%
2007 3.07% 2.7%
2006 3.09% 2.7%
2005 3.12% 2.7%
2004 3.15% 2.68%
2003 3.13% 2.22%
2002 3.2% 1.36%
2001 3.19% 0.89%
2000 3.06% 0.81%
1999 2.93% 0.82%
1998 2.8% 4.21%
1997 2.77% 15.6%
1996 2.79% 18.2%
1995 2.88% -16.5%
1994 2.95% -14.9%
1993 3.01% 3.88%
1992 3.11% 2.08%
1991 3.29% 2.06%
1990 3.5% 2.65%
1989 3.57% 3.11%
1988 3.59% 3.24%
1987 3.59% 3.33%
1986 3.64% 3.4%
1985 3.71% 3.43%
1984 3.75% 3.43%
1983 3.72% 3.39%
1982 3.64% 3.33%
1981 3.64% 3.25%
1980 3.61% 3.15%
1979 3.53% 3.07%
1978 3.5% 3.01%
1977 3.38% 3%
1976 3.3% 3%
1975 3.38% 2.98%
1974 3.44% 2.97%
1973 3.51% 2.96%
1972 3.54% 2.93%
1971 3.7% 3%
1970 3.92% 3.09%
1969 4% 3.13%
1968 4.03% 3.15%
1967 4.05% 3.07%
1966 4.07% 2.87%
1965 4.06% 2.65%
1964 4.01% 2.33%
1963 3.96% 2.29%
1962 3.9% 2.55%
1961 3.8% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Kenya Rwanda
Current population
58955623
14975051
Population rank 25/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.18%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +828
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 45/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -27,330 +6,282
Net migration rank 160/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - 6,282
2024 - -19,781 - -15,582
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 312,762 -9,001
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 312,145 -9,001
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 309,895 -21,492
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 312,692 -22,251
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 313,525 -24,492
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 312,512 -25,323
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 310,323 -25,634
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 305,549 -24,474
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 299,114 -21,862
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 292,779 -19,505
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 286,331 -16,779
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 282,584 -25,260
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 282,922 -27,915
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 286,848 -29,501
2009 1,193,598 7,096 287,034 -30,128
2008 1,174,818 29,612 287,334 -31,913
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 285,791 -32,537
2006 1,113,357 15,767 282,149 -34,008
2005 1,080,446 5,501 275,121 -33,830
2004 1,048,590 31,525 265,273 -31,214
2003 1,018,182 24,175 251,243 -25,355
2002 992,044 10,431 239,036 -91,518
2001 963,721 55,052 230,845 -152,197
2000 928,357 5,407 221,276 -153,588
1999 898,484 -13,257 210,518 -146,162
1998 875,511 -70,023 197,185 -129,089
1997 847,493 -80,443 174,687 410,106
1996 827,326 -79,276 140,455 1,367,700
1995 812,391 -75,506 121,137 439,995
1994 792,702 -40,367 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 788,579 -61,054 183,926 236,110
1992 785,018 -43,085 188,025 -12,334
1991 790,030 -60,087 196,431 -59,519
1990 789,087 -11,338 207,895 -41,483
1989 795,622 -24,949 217,632 -2,826
1988 785,652 -31,894 223,759 -5,285
1987 775,124 -48,633 225,744 -7,062
1986 755,606 -53,183 225,526 -8,982
1985 732,739 -35,400 223,794 -11,031
1984 709,639 -33,253 219,337 -12,899
1983 684,587 -23,905 212,750 -14,560
1982 663,109 -43,382 205,147 -15,818
1981 642,379 -52,761 195,769 -16,453
1980 616,390 -39,920 184,988 -16,359
1979 595,390 -56,280 174,477 -15,669
1978 574,695 -60,718 163,779 -13,838
1977 554,124 -57,493 155,011 -11,084
1976 536,740 -90,990 147,665 -7,027
1975 517,579 -71,421 140,596 -4,791
1974 500,008 -62,973 135,743 -4,535
1973 485,556 -52,102 131,021 -3,862
1972 472,557 -48,466 126,403 -4,156
1971 459,897 -49,671 122,567 -4,230
1970 443,065 -13,064 119,273 1,149
1969 427,819 369 115,394 2,983
1968 411,948 1,611 111,422 4,728
1967 396,920 5,060 108,053 4,655
1966 382,891 1,616 105,128 -1,930
1965 366,444 8,524 103,422 -9,774
1964 349,322 4,788 102,562 -19,458
1963 332,763 4,246 94,296 -25,524
1962 315,797 4,521 102,548 -25,594
1961 298,463 4,296 102,051 -20,508
1960 280,032 2,134 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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