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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 2.66 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Kenya vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Sri Lanka
2100 105,238,162 20,270,496
2099 105,257,438 20,383,669
2098 105,257,489 20,498,567
2097 105,250,948 20,611,123
2096 105,220,085 20,723,560
2095 105,175,623 20,834,629
2094 105,118,372 20,943,809
2093 105,046,907 21,052,131
2092 104,955,024 21,158,833
2091 104,846,805 21,263,961
2090 104,718,130 21,371,263
2089 104,573,271 21,475,426
2088 104,414,197 21,577,177
2087 104,243,505 21,677,510
2086 104,056,143 21,777,420
2085 103,854,891 21,876,464
2084 103,640,244 21,970,336
2083 103,407,124 22,062,801
2082 103,158,580 22,151,745
2081 102,889,291 22,240,834
2080 102,594,978 22,326,555
2079 102,286,967 22,411,438
2078 101,961,280 22,489,772
2077 101,613,181 22,565,028
2076 101,239,843 22,637,463
2075 100,849,423 22,707,112
2074 100,436,632 22,778,489
2073 100,001,277 22,844,703
2072 99,533,234 22,905,707
2071 99,042,264 22,964,866
2070 98,529,166 23,022,515
2069 97,992,232 23,076,310
2068 97,428,138 23,129,541
2067 96,842,744 23,184,596
2066 96,230,345 23,234,419
2065 95,598,937 23,285,901
2064 94,942,874 23,331,390
2063 94,266,124 23,372,184
2062 93,561,519 23,409,522
2061 92,837,768 23,441,893
2060 92,098,717 23,474,032
2059 91,343,602 23,502,132
2058 90,569,828 23,528,076
2057 89,783,087 23,550,580
2056 88,994,126 23,570,923
2055 88,192,182 23,582,432
2054 87,379,992 23,591,414
2053 86,552,281 23,601,371
2052 85,710,403 23,605,361
2051 84,850,558 23,606,194
2050 83,976,685 23,603,330
2049 83,090,517 23,597,604
2048 82,191,119 23,587,307
2047 81,274,836 23,570,881
2046 80,340,592 23,547,409
2045 79,389,433 23,515,133
2044 78,414,158 23,483,546
2043 77,418,567 23,446,242
2042 76,399,781 23,404,983
2041 75,363,853 23,357,358
2040 74,308,480 23,306,148
2039 73,241,028 23,248,341
2038 72,153,876 23,187,512
2037 71,058,753 23,120,775
2036 69,949,421 23,053,427
2035 68,831,151 22,981,808
2034 67,705,051 22,906,587
2033 66,569,532 22,826,414
2032 65,431,402 22,742,267
2031 64,289,540 22,655,907
2030 63,153,520 22,564,038
2029 62,021,378 22,470,759
2028 60,894,078 22,370,999
2027 59,770,115 22,266,017
2026 58,653,621 22,155,543
2025 57,540,609 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% 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 42.4% to 83,976,685 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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 1.96% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Kenya Sri Lanka
Current population
58955623
22185425
Population rank 25/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.27%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 -332
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 188/197
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 - -19,781 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 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 (1960–2024, 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/sri-lanka | 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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