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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 1.14 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.33% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Kenya vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya South Korea
2100 105,238,162 22,012,503
2099 105,257,438 22,335,528
2098 105,257,489 22,668,719
2097 105,250,948 23,009,661
2096 105,220,085 23,360,151
2095 105,175,623 23,722,747
2094 105,118,372 24,093,391
2093 105,046,907 24,473,038
2092 104,955,024 24,860,975
2091 104,846,805 25,255,379
2090 104,718,130 25,655,577
2089 104,573,271 26,060,945
2088 104,414,197 26,470,073
2087 104,243,505 26,884,813
2086 104,056,143 27,301,913
2085 103,854,891 27,723,736
2084 103,640,244 28,147,480
2083 103,407,124 28,578,182
2082 103,158,580 29,012,953
2081 102,889,291 29,456,022
2080 102,594,978 29,901,880
2079 102,286,967 30,352,062
2078 101,961,280 30,809,176
2077 101,613,181 31,273,700
2076 101,239,843 31,744,480
2075 100,849,423 32,221,226
2074 100,436,632 32,706,020
2073 100,001,277 33,196,556
2072 99,533,234 33,696,490
2071 99,042,264 34,203,935
2070 98,529,166 34,719,324
2069 97,992,232 35,241,850
2068 97,428,138 35,762,799
2067 96,842,744 36,292,307
2066 96,230,345 36,826,655
2065 95,598,937 37,368,086
2064 94,942,874 37,916,439
2063 94,266,124 38,469,051
2062 93,561,519 39,028,473
2061 92,837,768 39,584,621
2060 92,098,717 40,149,830
2059 91,343,602 40,712,514
2058 90,569,828 41,277,134
2057 89,783,087 41,833,887
2056 88,994,126 42,377,427
2055 88,192,182 42,909,302
2054 87,379,992 43,427,254
2053 86,552,281 43,938,741
2052 85,710,403 44,441,106
2051 84,850,558 44,923,604
2050 83,976,685 45,385,311
2049 83,090,517 45,832,153
2048 82,191,119 46,258,529
2047 81,274,836 46,668,898
2046 80,340,592 47,056,404
2045 79,389,433 47,433,205
2044 78,414,158 47,797,411
2043 77,418,567 48,144,730
2042 76,399,781 48,478,991
2041 75,363,853 48,806,273
2040 74,308,480 49,115,658
2039 73,241,028 49,412,830
2038 72,153,876 49,694,340
2037 71,058,753 49,957,504
2036 69,949,421 50,200,702
2035 68,831,151 50,426,000
2034 67,705,051 50,632,962
2033 66,569,532 50,821,090
2032 65,431,402 50,987,020
2031 64,289,540 51,134,940
2030 63,153,520 51,267,908
2029 62,021,378 51,385,868
2028 60,894,078 51,486,791
2027 59,770,115 51,576,746
2026 58,653,621 51,649,918
2025 57,540,609 51,710,062
2024 56,432,944 51,751,065
2023 55,339,003 51,712,619
2022 54,252,461 51,672,569
2021 53,219,166 51,769,539
2020 52,217,334 51,836,239
2019 51,202,827 51,764,822
2018 50,207,107 51,585,058
2017 49,197,766 51,361,911
2016 48,139,687 51,217,803
2015 47,088,526 51,014,947
2014 46,051,440 50,746,659
2013 44,986,791 50,428,893
2012 43,888,303 50,199,853
2011 42,758,461 49,936,638
2010 41,598,567 49,554,112
2009 40,408,891 49,307,835
2008 39,206,351 49,054,708
2007 38,036,349 48,683,638
2006 36,904,008 48,438,292
2005 35,796,484 48,184,561
2004 34,713,455 48,082,519
2003 33,652,223 47,892,330
2002 32,629,808 47,644,736
2001 31,619,170 47,370,164
2000 30,642,890 47,008,111
1999 29,733,408 46,616,677
1998 28,888,057 46,286,503
1997 28,101,768 45,953,580
1996 27,344,211 45,524,681
1995 26,601,751 45,092,991
1994 25,857,130 44,641,540
1993 25,117,188 44,194,628
1992 24,382,460 43,747,962
1991 23,646,514 43,295,704
1990 22,892,651 42,869,283
1989 22,118,434 42,449,038
1988 21,356,219 42,031,247
1987 20,616,096 41,621,690
1986 19,901,646 41,213,674
1985 19,201,768 40,805,744
1984 18,514,906 40,405,956
1983 17,846,374 39,910,403
1982 17,206,175 39,326,352
1981 16,601,507 38,723,248
1980 16,018,459 38,123,775
1979 15,460,666 37,534,236
1978 14,934,126 36,969,185
1977 14,428,819 36,411,795
1976 13,957,623 35,848,523
1975 13,511,671 35,280,725
1974 13,070,078 34,692,266
1973 12,634,835 34,103,149
1972 12,206,060 33,505,406
1971 11,788,904 32,882,704
1970 11,368,791 32,240,827
1969 10,939,695 31,544,266
1968 10,518,823 30,838,302
1967 10,111,057 30,130,983
1966 9,717,816 29,435,571
1965 9,338,078 28,704,674
1964 8,973,535 27,984,155
1963 8,627,971 27,261,747
1962 8,299,308 26,513,030
1961 7,987,770 25,765,673
1960 7,695,307 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya South Korea
2100 -0.02% -1.45%
2099 -0% -1.47%
2098 0.006% -1.48%
2097 0.03% -1.5%
2096 0.04% -1.53%
2095 0.05% -1.54%
2094 0.07% -1.55%
2093 0.09% -1.56%
2092 0.1% -1.56%
2091 0.12% -1.56%
2090 0.14% -1.56%
2089 0.15% -1.55%
2088 0.16% -1.54%
2087 0.18% -1.53%
2086 0.19% -1.52%
2085 0.21% -1.51%
2084 0.23% -1.51%
2083 0.24% -1.5%
2082 0.26% -1.5%
2081 0.29% -1.49%
2080 0.3% -1.48%
2079 0.32% -1.48%
2078 0.34% -1.49%
2077 0.37% -1.48%
2076 0.39% -1.48%
2075 0.41% -1.48%
2074 0.44% -1.48%
2073 0.47% -1.48%
2072 0.5% -1.48%
2071 0.52% -1.48%
2070 0.55% -1.48%
2069 0.58% -1.46%
2068 0.6% -1.46%
2067 0.64% -1.45%
2066 0.66% -1.45%
2065 0.69% -1.45%
2064 0.72% -1.44%
2063 0.75% -1.43%
2062 0.78% -1.4%
2061 0.8% -1.41%
2060 0.83% -1.38%
2059 0.85% -1.37%
2058 0.88% -1.33%
2057 0.89% -1.28%
2056 0.91% -1.24%
2055 0.93% -1.19%
2054 0.96% -1.16%
2053 0.98% -1.13%
2052 1.01% -1.07%
2051 1.04% -1.02%
2050 1.07% -0.97%
2049 1.09% -0.92%
2048 1.13% -0.88%
2047 1.16% -0.82%
2046 1.2% -0.79%
2045 1.24% -0.76%
2044 1.29% -0.72%
2043 1.33% -0.69%
2042 1.37% -0.67%
2041 1.42% -0.63%
2040 1.46% -0.6%
2039 1.51% -0.57%
2038 1.54% -0.53%
2037 1.59% -0.48%
2036 1.62% -0.45%
2035 1.66% -0.41%
2034 1.71% -0.37%
2033 1.74% -0.33%
2032 1.78% -0.29%
2031 1.8% -0.26%
2030 1.83% -0.23%
2029 1.85% -0.2%
2028 1.88% -0.17%
2027 1.9% -0.14%
2026 1.93% -0.12%
2025 1.96% -0.08%
2024 1.98% 0.07%
2023 2% 0.08%
2022 1.94% -0.19%
2021 1.92% -0.13%
2020 1.98% 0.14%
2019 1.98% 0.35%
2018 2.05% 0.43%
2017 2.2% 0.28%
2016 2.23% 0.4%
2015 2.25% 0.53%
2014 2.37% 0.63%
2013 2.5% 0.46%
2012 2.64% 0.53%
2011 2.79% 0.77%
2010 2.94% 0.5%
2009 3.07% 0.52%
2008 3.08% 0.76%
2007 3.07% 0.51%
2006 3.09% 0.53%
2005 3.12% 0.21%
2004 3.15% 0.4%
2003 3.13% 0.52%
2002 3.2% 0.58%
2001 3.19% 0.77%
2000 3.06% 0.84%
1999 2.93% 0.71%
1998 2.8% 0.72%
1997 2.77% 0.94%
1996 2.79% 0.96%
1995 2.88% 1.01%
1994 2.95% 1.01%
1993 3.01% 1.02%
1992 3.11% 1.04%
1991 3.29% 0.99%
1990 3.5% 0.99%
1989 3.57% 0.99%
1988 3.59% 0.98%
1987 3.59% 0.99%
1986 3.64% 1%
1985 3.71% 0.99%
1984 3.75% 1.24%
1983 3.72% 1.49%
1982 3.64% 1.56%
1981 3.64% 1.57%
1980 3.61% 1.57%
1979 3.53% 1.53%
1978 3.5% 1.53%
1977 3.38% 1.57%
1976 3.3% 1.61%
1975 3.38% 1.7%
1974 3.44% 1.73%
1973 3.51% 1.78%
1972 3.54% 1.89%
1971 3.7% 1.99%
1970 3.92% 2.21%
1969 4% 2.29%
1968 4.03% 2.35%
1967 4.05% 2.36%
1966 4.07% 2.55%
1965 4.06% 2.57%
1964 4.01% 2.65%
1963 3.96% 2.82%
1962 3.9% 2.9%
1961 3.8% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Kenya South Korea
Current population
58955623
51649918
Population rank 25/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.62%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +105
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 160/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -27,330 +65,731
Net migration rank 160/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - 65,731
2024 - -19,781 - 75,963
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 -77,569 87,800
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 -124,014 87,800
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 -56,947 -16,778
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 -31,101 112,631
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 10,353 128,622
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 30,951 118,220
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 71,907 104,029
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 122,923 91,568
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 163,248 276,427
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 167,464 308,037
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 166,415 301,926
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 215,859 281,866
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 214,728 269,958
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 213,083 52,042
2009 1,193,598 7,096 197,231 5,308
2008 1,174,818 29,612 215,841 -19,630
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 248,286 -42,293
2006 1,113,357 15,767 203,441 -28,434
2005 1,080,446 5,501 187,920 -47,821
2004 1,048,590 31,525 225,988 -42,549
2003 1,018,182 24,175 244,251 -31,994
2002 992,044 10,431 247,752 -18,105
2001 963,721 55,052 312,643 -28,006
2000 928,357 5,407 390,167 -84,960
1999 898,484 -13,257 368,272 -107,448
1998 875,511 -70,023 393,436 -98,044
1997 847,493 -80,443 422,773 -109,130
1996 827,326 -79,276 446,142 -115,705
1995 812,391 -75,506 468,967 -208,491
1994 792,702 -40,367 473,200 -208,309
1993 788,579 -61,054 477,302 -222,802
1992 785,018 -43,085 494,352 -265,849
1991 790,030 -60,087 467,594 -270,754
1990 789,087 -11,338 411,546 79,294
1989 795,622 -24,949 403,266 186,120
1988 785,652 -31,894 399,297 192,534
1987 775,124 -48,633 378,758 198,057
1986 755,606 -53,183 395,651 189,782
1985 732,739 -35,400 416,219 97,949
1984 709,639 -33,253 436,384 101,394
1983 684,587 -23,905 514,844 102,167
1982 663,109 -43,382 605,626 48,638
1981 642,379 -52,761 631,189 18,442
1980 616,390 -39,920 583,294 -148,341
1979 595,390 -56,280 623,068 -139,566
1978 574,695 -60,718 499,084 -85,721
1977 554,124 -57,493 578,947 -90,737
1976 536,740 -90,990 530,558 -92,314
1975 517,579 -71,421 603,300 -52,332
1974 500,008 -62,973 673,030 27,005
1973 485,556 -52,102 699,115 35,779
1972 472,557 -48,466 740,469 25,382
1971 459,897 -49,671 789,185 -6,326
1970 443,065 -13,064 747,987 -27,999
1969 427,819 369 694,227 -21,175
1968 411,948 1,611 684,487 -16,868
1967 396,920 5,060 692,169 -16,484
1966 382,891 1,616 623,534 -16,688
1965 366,444 8,524 641,090 -146,386
1964 349,322 4,788 655,501 -102,284
1963 332,763 4,246 685,824 -80,226
1962 315,797 4,521 712,590 -94,606
1961 298,463 4,296 730,173 -93,179
1960 280,032 2,134 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/south-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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South 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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-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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