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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 4.71 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Kenya vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya South Sudan
2100 105,238,162 24,086,901
2099 105,257,438 24,081,477
2098 105,257,489 24,063,461
2097 105,250,948 24,065,268
2096 105,220,085 24,054,483
2095 105,175,623 24,046,345
2094 105,118,372 24,047,776
2093 105,046,907 24,039,017
2092 104,955,024 24,019,054
2091 104,846,805 24,000,308
2090 104,718,130 23,978,496
2089 104,573,271 23,937,487
2088 104,414,197 23,892,166
2087 104,243,505 23,857,250
2086 104,056,143 23,803,312
2085 103,854,891 23,759,178
2084 103,640,244 23,687,109
2083 103,407,124 23,617,646
2082 103,158,580 23,541,119
2081 102,889,291 23,466,449
2080 102,594,978 23,391,758
2079 102,286,967 23,294,252
2078 101,961,280 23,197,067
2077 101,613,181 23,086,584
2076 101,239,843 22,987,331
2075 100,849,423 22,868,587
2074 100,436,632 22,726,189
2073 100,001,277 22,583,672
2072 99,533,234 22,438,943
2071 99,042,264 22,288,026
2070 98,529,166 22,151,650
2069 97,992,232 22,003,659
2068 97,428,138 21,829,800
2067 96,842,744 21,662,211
2066 96,230,345 21,496,881
2065 95,598,937 21,317,455
2064 94,942,874 21,142,002
2063 94,266,124 20,965,122
2062 93,561,519 20,785,055
2061 92,837,768 20,608,964
2060 92,098,717 20,430,857
2059 91,343,602 20,235,022
2058 90,569,828 20,048,974
2057 89,783,087 19,853,696
2056 88,994,126 19,659,362
2055 88,192,182 19,464,297
2054 87,379,992 19,257,481
2053 86,552,281 19,060,517
2052 85,710,403 18,840,461
2051 84,850,558 18,633,198
2050 83,976,685 18,434,212
2049 83,090,517 18,230,881
2048 82,191,119 18,021,026
2047 81,274,836 17,806,282
2046 80,340,592 17,579,173
2045 79,389,433 17,355,041
2044 78,414,158 17,121,972
2043 77,418,567 16,888,278
2042 76,399,781 16,645,354
2041 75,363,853 16,396,768
2040 74,308,480 16,142,816
2039 73,241,028 15,889,952
2038 72,153,876 15,628,043
2037 71,058,753 15,363,975
2036 69,949,421 15,091,275
2035 68,831,151 14,815,307
2034 67,705,051 14,543,511
2033 66,569,532 14,278,180
2032 65,431,402 14,007,134
2031 64,289,540 13,730,637
2030 63,153,520 13,465,615
2029 62,021,378 13,206,477
2028 60,894,078 12,947,082
2027 59,770,115 12,692,769
2026 58,653,621 12,439,296
2025 57,540,609 12,193,102
2024 56,432,944 11,943,408
2023 55,339,003 11,483,374
2022 54,252,461 11,021,177
2021 53,219,166 10,865,780
2020 52,217,334 10,698,467
2019 51,202,827 10,423,384
2018 50,207,107 10,122,977
2017 49,197,766 10,259,154
2016 48,139,687 10,830,102
2015 47,088,526 11,107,561
2014 46,051,440 11,235,073
2013 44,986,791 11,166,275
2012 43,888,303 10,756,240
2011 42,758,461 10,288,109
2010 41,598,567 9,745,953
2009 40,408,891 9,243,556
2008 39,206,351 8,817,647
2007 38,036,349 8,388,788
2006 36,904,008 7,976,526
2005 35,796,484 7,590,143
2004 34,713,455 7,233,041
2003 33,652,223 6,903,127
2002 32,629,808 6,596,806
2001 31,619,170 6,308,391
2000 30,642,890 6,032,267
1999 29,733,408 5,771,628
1998 28,888,057 5,620,068
1997 28,101,768 5,509,136
1996 27,344,211 5,356,925
1995 26,601,751 5,225,836
1994 25,857,130 5,071,184
1993 25,117,188 4,956,002
1992 24,382,460 4,909,749
1991 23,646,514 4,836,677
1990 22,892,651 4,737,633
1989 22,118,434 4,713,229
1988 21,356,219 4,848,029
1987 20,616,096 4,962,395
1986 19,901,646 4,921,240
1985 19,201,768 4,834,296
1984 18,514,906 4,750,627
1983 17,846,374 4,661,574
1982 17,206,175 4,557,686
1981 16,601,507 4,447,272
1980 16,018,459 4,339,030
1979 15,460,666 4,232,605
1978 14,934,126 4,127,657
1977 14,428,819 4,024,032
1976 13,957,623 3,921,910
1975 13,511,671 3,821,494
1974 13,070,078 3,723,259
1973 12,634,835 3,627,383
1972 12,206,060 3,542,497
1971 11,788,904 3,468,646
1970 11,368,791 3,409,614
1969 10,939,695 3,365,533
1968 10,518,823 3,321,528
1967 10,111,057 3,277,648
1966 9,717,816 3,236,423
1965 9,338,078 3,189,835
1964 8,973,535 3,129,918
1963 8,627,971 3,072,669
1962 8,299,308 3,024,308
1961 7,987,770 2,976,724
1960 7,695,307 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya South Sudan
2100 -0.02% 0.02%
2099 -0% 0.07%
2098 0.006% -0.008%
2097 0.03% 0.04%
2096 0.04% 0.03%
2095 0.05% -0.006%
2094 0.07% 0.04%
2093 0.09% 0.08%
2092 0.1% 0.08%
2091 0.12% 0.09%
2090 0.14% 0.17%
2089 0.15% 0.19%
2088 0.16% 0.15%
2087 0.18% 0.23%
2086 0.19% 0.19%
2085 0.21% 0.3%
2084 0.23% 0.29%
2083 0.24% 0.33%
2082 0.26% 0.32%
2081 0.29% 0.32%
2080 0.3% 0.42%
2079 0.32% 0.42%
2078 0.34% 0.48%
2077 0.37% 0.43%
2076 0.39% 0.52%
2075 0.41% 0.63%
2074 0.44% 0.63%
2073 0.47% 0.64%
2072 0.5% 0.68%
2071 0.52% 0.62%
2070 0.55% 0.67%
2069 0.58% 0.8%
2068 0.6% 0.77%
2067 0.64% 0.77%
2066 0.66% 0.84%
2065 0.69% 0.83%
2064 0.72% 0.84%
2063 0.75% 0.87%
2062 0.78% 0.85%
2061 0.8% 0.87%
2060 0.83% 0.97%
2059 0.85% 0.93%
2058 0.88% 0.98%
2057 0.89% 0.99%
2056 0.91% 1%
2055 0.93% 1.07%
2054 0.96% 1.03%
2053 0.98% 1.17%
2052 1.01% 1.11%
2051 1.04% 1.08%
2050 1.07% 1.12%
2049 1.09% 1.16%
2048 1.13% 1.21%
2047 1.16% 1.29%
2046 1.2% 1.29%
2045 1.24% 1.36%
2044 1.29% 1.38%
2043 1.33% 1.46%
2042 1.37% 1.52%
2041 1.42% 1.57%
2040 1.46% 1.59%
2039 1.51% 1.68%
2038 1.54% 1.72%
2037 1.59% 1.81%
2036 1.62% 1.86%
2035 1.66% 1.87%
2034 1.71% 1.86%
2033 1.74% 1.94%
2032 1.78% 2.01%
2031 1.8% 1.97%
2030 1.83% 1.96%
2029 1.85% 2%
2028 1.88% 2%
2027 1.9% 2.04%
2026 1.93% 2.02%
2025 1.96% 2.09%
2024 1.98% 4.01%
2023 2% 4.19%
2022 1.94% 1.43%
2021 1.92% 1.56%
2020 1.98% 2.64%
2019 1.98% 2.97%
2018 2.05% -1.33%
2017 2.2% -5.27%
2016 2.23% -2.5%
2015 2.25% -1.13%
2014 2.37% 0.62%
2013 2.5% 3.81%
2012 2.64% 4.55%
2011 2.79% 5.56%
2010 2.94% 5.44%
2009 3.07% 4.83%
2008 3.08% 5.11%
2007 3.07% 5.17%
2006 3.09% 5.09%
2005 3.12% 4.94%
2004 3.15% 4.78%
2003 3.13% 4.64%
2002 3.2% 4.57%
2001 3.19% 4.58%
2000 3.06% 4.52%
1999 2.93% 2.7%
1998 2.8% 2.01%
1997 2.77% 2.84%
1996 2.79% 2.51%
1995 2.88% 3.05%
1994 2.95% 2.32%
1993 3.01% 0.94%
1992 3.11% 1.51%
1991 3.29% 2.09%
1990 3.5% 0.52%
1989 3.57% -2.78%
1988 3.59% -2.3%
1987 3.59% 0.84%
1986 3.64% 1.8%
1985 3.71% 1.76%
1984 3.75% 1.91%
1983 3.72% 2.28%
1982 3.64% 2.48%
1981 3.64% 2.49%
1980 3.61% 2.51%
1979 3.53% 2.54%
1978 3.5% 2.58%
1977 3.38% 2.6%
1976 3.3% 2.63%
1975 3.38% 2.64%
1974 3.44% 2.64%
1973 3.51% 2.4%
1972 3.54% 2.13%
1971 3.7% 1.73%
1970 3.92% 1.31%
1969 4% 1.32%
1968 4.03% 1.34%
1967 4.05% 1.27%
1966 4.07% 1.46%
1965 4.06% 1.91%
1964 4.01% 1.86%
1963 3.96% 1.6%
1962 3.9% 1.6%
1961 3.8% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Kenya South Sudan
Current population
58955623
12507858
Population rank 25/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.15%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 7/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -27,330 +6,145
Net migration rank 160/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - 6,145
2024 - -19,781 - 15,374
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 217,966 455,000
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 211,166 40,259
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 213,567 -154,359
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 212,332 62,935
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 209,708 65,198
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 168,497 157,408
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 72,193 -670,477
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 110,553 -654,225
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 148,542 -159,822
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 227,611 -471,523
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 315,983 65,337
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 312,974 125,771
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 303,181 194,325
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 287,409 299,402
2009 1,193,598 7,096 278,859 139,129
2008 1,174,818 29,612 268,268 165,557
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 256,546 167,350
2006 1,113,357 15,767 246,706 153,926
2005 1,080,446 5,501 239,272 132,869
2004 1,048,590 31,525 231,877 110,182
2003 1,018,182 24,175 225,822 91,951
2002 992,044 10,431 212,014 82,847
2001 963,721 55,052 204,108 77,856
2000 928,357 5,407 196,055 74,227
1999 898,484 -13,257 180,721 70,271
1998 875,511 -70,023 -12,157 64,285
1997 847,493 -80,443 121,454 48,280
1996 827,326 -79,276 116,728 17,953
1995 812,391 -75,506 110,417 17,077
1994 792,702 -40,367 165,407 16,407
1993 788,579 -61,054 32,779 15,772
1992 785,018 -43,085 28,874 15,077
1991 790,030 -60,087 87,873 14,327
1990 789,087 -11,338 82,900 12,988
1989 795,622 -24,949 83,735 -130,821
1988 785,652 -31,894 -125,447 -97,065
1987 775,124 -48,633 5,756 -11,976
1986 755,606 -53,183 99,502 -10,973
1985 732,739 -35,400 95,342 -9,986
1984 709,639 -33,253 90,970 -8,984
1983 684,587 -23,905 104,107 -7,986
1982 663,109 -43,382 118,641 -6,983
1981 642,379 -52,761 115,163 -5,994
1980 616,390 -39,920 112,307 -4,997
1979 595,390 -56,280 109,540 -3,997
1978 574,695 -60,718 107,352 -2,998
1977 554,124 -57,493 104,886 -1,997
1976 536,740 -90,990 102,346 -995
1975 517,579 -71,421 99,882 -395
1974 500,008 -62,973 97,181 -192
1973 485,556 -52,102 94,765 0
1972 472,557 -48,466 74,803 193
1971 459,897 -49,671 72,308 394
1970 443,065 -13,064 44,776 587
1969 427,819 369 42,015 786
1968 411,948 1,611 44,213 995
1967 396,920 5,060 41,357 1,194
1966 382,891 1,616 38,523 1,386
1965 366,444 8,524 51,682 1,591
1964 349,322 4,788 64,786 1,785
1963 332,763 4,246 46,333 1,591
1962 315,797 4,521 47,406 1,386
1961 298,463 4,296 45,186 1,194
1960 280,032 2,134 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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