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Population in Kenya compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 57,532,493 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 59,218,766 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 2.7 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.98% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.04% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59.2M (60.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Kenya vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Sri Lanka
2100 105,223,316 20,009,380
2099 105,242,590 20,121,095
2098 105,242,641 20,234,513
2097 105,236,101 20,345,619
2096 105,205,242 20,456,607
2095 105,160,786 20,566,246
2094 105,103,544 20,674,019
2093 105,032,088 20,780,946
2092 104,940,218 20,886,274
2091 104,832,015 20,990,047
2090 104,703,358 21,095,968
2089 104,558,519 21,198,788
2088 104,399,468 21,299,229
2087 104,228,800 21,398,269
2086 104,041,464 21,496,892
2085 103,840,241 21,594,661
2084 103,625,624 21,687,323
2083 103,392,537 21,778,597
2082 103,144,028 21,866,395
2081 102,874,777 21,954,337
2080 102,580,506 22,038,953
2079 102,272,538 22,122,744
2078 101,946,897 22,200,069
2077 101,598,847 22,274,355
2076 101,225,562 22,345,857
2075 100,835,197 22,414,609
2074 100,422,464 22,485,066
2073 99,987,171 22,550,427
2072 99,519,193 22,610,645
2071 99,028,293 22,669,042
2070 98,515,267 22,725,948
2069 97,978,409 22,779,050
2068 97,414,394 22,831,596
2067 96,829,083 22,885,941
2066 96,216,770 22,935,123
2065 95,585,451 22,985,942
2064 94,929,481 23,030,844
2063 94,252,826 23,071,114
2062 93,548,321 23,107,970
2061 92,824,672 23,139,924
2060 92,085,725 23,171,649
2059 91,330,716 23,199,387
2058 90,557,051 23,224,997
2057 89,770,421 23,247,211
2056 88,981,572 23,267,292
2055 88,179,741 23,278,653
2054 87,367,666 23,287,520
2053 86,540,071 23,297,347
2052 85,698,312 23,301,287
2051 84,838,589 23,302,108
2050 83,964,839 23,299,282
2049 83,078,796 23,293,630
2048 82,179,525 23,283,465
2047 81,263,371 23,267,251
2046 80,329,258 23,244,081
2045 79,378,234 23,212,221
2044 78,403,097 23,181,041
2043 77,407,646 23,144,217
2042 76,389,004 23,103,489
2041 75,353,221 23,056,478
2040 74,297,998 23,005,928
2039 73,230,696 22,948,866
2038 72,143,698 22,888,821
2037 71,048,729 22,822,943
2036 69,939,553 22,756,462
2035 68,821,441 22,685,766
2034 67,695,500 22,611,514
2033 66,560,141 22,532,374
2032 65,422,172 22,449,310
2031 64,280,471 22,364,063
2030 63,144,611 22,273,377
2029 62,012,629 22,181,300
2028 60,885,488 22,082,826
2027 59,761,684 21,979,196
2026 58,645,347 21,870,145
2025 57,532,493 21,756,000
2024 56,432,944 21,916,000
2023 55,339,003 22,037,000
2022 54,252,461 22,181,000
2021 53,219,166 22,156,000
2020 52,217,334 21,919,000
2019 51,202,827 21,803,000
2018 50,207,107 21,670,000
2017 49,197,766 21,453,000
2016 48,139,687 21,209,000
2015 47,088,526 20,970,000
2014 46,051,440 20,778,000
2013 44,986,791 20,585,000
2012 43,888,303 21,169,458
2011 42,758,461 21,009,048
2010 41,598,567 20,879,089
2009 40,408,891 20,756,435
2008 39,206,351 20,629,378
2007 38,036,349 20,492,545
2006 36,904,008 20,352,411
2005 35,796,484 20,216,524
2004 34,713,455 20,087,605
2003 33,652,223 19,951,521
2002 32,629,808 19,805,752
2001 31,619,170 19,600,362
2000 30,642,890 19,293,054
1999 29,733,408 18,944,731
1998 28,888,057 18,596,003
1997 28,101,768 18,248,200
1996 27,344,211 17,905,018
1995 26,601,751 17,564,068
1994 25,857,130 17,275,773
1993 25,117,188 17,025,918
1992 24,382,460 16,739,284
1991 23,646,514 16,475,354
1990 22,892,651 16,352,458
1989 22,118,434 16,248,557
1988 21,356,219 16,078,621
1987 20,616,096 15,916,576
1986 19,901,646 15,731,256
1985 19,201,768 15,544,154
1984 18,514,906 15,441,860
1983 17,846,374 15,388,794
1982 17,206,175 15,286,567
1981 16,601,507 15,099,414
1980 16,018,459 14,847,974
1979 15,460,666 14,579,614
1978 14,934,126 14,310,128
1977 14,428,819 14,049,371
1976 13,957,623 13,796,770
1975 13,511,671 13,548,984
1974 13,070,078 13,305,693
1973 12,634,835 13,060,916
1972 12,206,060 12,809,205
1971 11,788,904 12,551,910
1970 11,368,791 12,287,110
1969 10,939,695 12,013,858
1968 10,518,823 11,736,088
1967 10,111,057 11,457,328
1966 9,717,816 11,183,928
1965 9,338,078 10,916,965
1964 8,973,535 10,653,397
1963 8,627,971 10,395,040
1962 8,299,308 10,143,754
1961 7,987,770 9,899,372
1960 7,695,307 9,661,389

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 11,079,079 people (a 23% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Kenya's population will grow by 41.8% to 83,964,839 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Sri Lanka
2100 -0.02% -0.56%
2099 -0% -0.56%
2098 0.006% -0.55%
2097 0.03% -0.54%
2096 0.04% -0.53%
2095 0.05% -0.52%
2094 0.07% -0.51%
2093 0.09% -0.5%
2092 0.1% -0.49%
2091 0.12% -0.5%
2090 0.14% -0.49%
2089 0.15% -0.47%
2088 0.16% -0.46%
2087 0.18% -0.46%
2086 0.19% -0.45%
2085 0.21% -0.43%
2084 0.23% -0.42%
2083 0.24% -0.4%
2082 0.26% -0.4%
2081 0.29% -0.38%
2080 0.3% -0.38%
2079 0.32% -0.35%
2078 0.34% -0.33%
2077 0.37% -0.32%
2076 0.39% -0.31%
2075 0.41% -0.31%
2074 0.44% -0.29%
2073 0.47% -0.27%
2072 0.5% -0.26%
2071 0.52% -0.25%
2070 0.55% -0.23%
2069 0.58% -0.23%
2068 0.6% -0.24%
2067 0.64% -0.21%
2066 0.66% -0.22%
2065 0.69% -0.19%
2064 0.72% -0.17%
2063 0.75% -0.16%
2062 0.78% -0.14%
2061 0.8% -0.14%
2060 0.83% -0.12%
2059 0.85% -0.11%
2058 0.88% -0.1%
2057 0.89% -0.09%
2056 0.91% -0.05%
2055 0.93% -0.04%
2054 0.96% -0.04%
2053 0.98% -0.02%
2052 1.01% -0.004%
2051 1.04% 0.01%
2050 1.07% 0.02%
2049 1.09% 0.04%
2048 1.13% 0.07%
2047 1.16% 0.1%
2046 1.2% 0.14%
2045 1.24% 0.13%
2044 1.29% 0.16%
2043 1.33% 0.18%
2042 1.37% 0.2%
2041 1.42% 0.22%
2040 1.46% 0.25%
2039 1.51% 0.26%
2038 1.54% 0.29%
2037 1.59% 0.29%
2036 1.62% 0.31%
2035 1.66% 0.33%
2034 1.71% 0.35%
2033 1.74% 0.37%
2032 1.78% 0.38%
2031 1.8% 0.41%
2030 1.83% 0.42%
2029 1.85% 0.45%
2028 1.88% 0.47%
2027 1.9% 0.5%
2026 1.93% 0.52%
2025 1.95% -0.73%
2024 1.98% -0.55%
2023 2% -0.65%
2022 1.94% 0.11%
2021 1.92% 1.08%
2020 1.98% 0.53%
2019 1.98% 0.61%
2018 2.05% 1.01%
2017 2.2% 1.15%
2016 2.23% 1.14%
2015 2.25% 0.92%
2014 2.37% 0.94%
2013 2.5% -2.76%
2012 2.64% 0.76%
2011 2.79% 0.62%
2010 2.94% 0.59%
2009 3.07% 0.62%
2008 3.08% 0.67%
2007 3.07% 0.69%
2006 3.09% 0.67%
2005 3.12% 0.64%
2004 3.15% 0.68%
2003 3.13% 0.74%
2002 3.2% 1.05%
2001 3.19% 1.59%
2000 3.06% 1.84%
1999 2.93% 1.88%
1998 2.8% 1.91%
1997 2.77% 1.92%
1996 2.79% 1.94%
1995 2.88% 1.67%
1994 2.95% 1.47%
1993 3.01% 1.71%
1992 3.11% 1.6%
1991 3.29% 0.75%
1990 3.5% 0.64%
1989 3.57% 1.06%
1988 3.59% 1.02%
1987 3.59% 1.18%
1986 3.64% 1.2%
1985 3.71% 0.66%
1984 3.75% 0.34%
1983 3.72% 0.67%
1982 3.64% 1.24%
1981 3.64% 1.69%
1980 3.61% 1.84%
1979 3.53% 1.88%
1978 3.5% 1.86%
1977 3.38% 1.83%
1976 3.3% 1.83%
1975 3.38% 1.83%
1974 3.44% 1.87%
1973 3.51% 1.97%
1972 3.54% 2.05%
1971 3.7% 2.16%
1970 3.92% 2.27%
1969 4% 2.37%
1968 4.03% 2.43%
1967 4.05% 2.44%
1966 4.07% 2.45%
1965 4.06% 2.47%
1964 4.01% 2.49%
1963 3.96% 2.48%
1962 3.9% 2.47%
1961 3.8% 2.46%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kenya grew by 1.95%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Kenya Sri Lanka
Current population
59218766
21926160
Population rank 25/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.26%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
20.7 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
1.3 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,012 -438
Annual growth/decline +1,099,549 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.95% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 190/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -27,330 -30,724
Net migration rank 160/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - -30,724
2024 1,116,695 -19,781 50,407 -27,245
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 66,111 -28,011
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 95,378 -27,435
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 121,858 -29,586
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 170,968 -29,875
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 172,243 -28,426
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 183,610 -28,607
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 187,993 -22,324
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 194,232 -18,388
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 201,815 -29,797
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 211,541 -33,672
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 221,021 -37,754
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 229,138 -41,955
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 224,461 -90,839
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 224,325 -98,060
2009 1,193,598 7,096 200,175 -81,130
2008 1,174,818 29,612 232,225 -97,144
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 248,287 -109,695
2006 1,113,357 15,767 248,706 -107,045
2005 1,080,446 5,501 248,683 -118,594
2004 1,048,590 31,525 212,527 -84,795
2003 1,018,182 24,175 252,008 -107,573
2002 992,044 10,431 252,840 -105,718
2001 963,721 55,052 244,377 19,273
2000 928,357 5,407 227,060 123,894
1999 898,484 -13,257 206,876 138,799
1998 875,511 -70,023 201,059 150,724
1997 847,493 -80,443 208,193 135,636
1996 827,326 -79,276 215,290 127,236
1995 812,391 -75,506 221,957 117,416
1994 792,702 -40,367 228,904 8,323
1993 788,579 -61,054 226,257 36,232
1992 785,018 -43,085 222,230 88,542
1991 790,030 -60,087 218,117 -1,047
1990 789,087 -11,338 224,454 -195,736
1989 795,622 -24,949 212,401 -33,305
1988 785,652 -31,894 219,184 -58,415
1987 775,124 -48,633 226,414 -63,105
1986 755,606 -53,183 233,782 -26,460
1985 732,739 -35,400 247,836 -80,950
1984 709,639 -33,253 263,175 -225,450
1983 684,587 -23,905 277,768 -209,362
1982 663,109 -43,382 300,030 -163,987
1981 642,379 -52,761 328,096 -89,824
1980 616,390 -39,920 328,155 -63,541
1979 595,390 -56,280 329,791 -57,683
1978 574,695 -60,718 317,055 -50,189
1977 554,124 -57,493 300,038 -45,383
1976 536,740 -90,990 291,816 -41,258
1975 517,579 -71,421 282,496 -37,475
1974 500,008 -62,973 275,521 -33,979
1973 485,556 -52,102 278,577 -30,582
1972 472,557 -48,466 282,494 -27,071
1971 459,897 -49,671 281,200 -22,021
1970 443,065 -13,064 286,719 -16,299
1969 427,819 369 286,218 -10,152
1968 411,948 1,611 286,642 -7,163
1967 396,920 5,060 284,738 -6,696
1966 382,891 1,616 275,549 -6,794
1965 366,444 8,524 272,422 -7,249
1964 349,322 4,788 269,584 -7,614
1963 332,763 4,246 262,880 -8,118
1962 315,797 4,521 256,719 -8,909
1961 298,463 4,296 251,087 -10,144
1960 280,032 2,134 247,631 -12,610

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 95.8% of the population change in Kenya is from natural causes (a gain of 10,885,724 people) and 4.23% is from migration (a loss of 481,242 people). In Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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