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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 57,532,493 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 59,218,766 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 2.2 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 1.04% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.04% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59.2M (60.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Kenya vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Syria
2100 105,223,316 44,500,028
2099 105,242,590 44,570,009
2098 105,242,641 44,629,837
2097 105,236,101 44,692,566
2096 105,205,242 44,747,012
2095 105,160,786 44,774,686
2094 105,103,544 44,824,294
2093 105,032,088 44,853,295
2092 104,940,218 44,882,700
2091 104,832,015 44,895,349
2090 104,703,358 44,926,869
2089 104,558,519 44,925,891
2088 104,399,468 44,920,667
2087 104,228,800 44,928,298
2086 104,041,464 44,947,658
2085 103,840,241 44,913,669
2084 103,625,624 44,878,845
2083 103,392,537 44,850,592
2082 103,144,028 44,790,014
2081 102,874,777 44,723,244
2080 102,580,506 44,624,321
2079 102,272,538 44,567,127
2078 101,946,897 44,529,618
2077 101,598,847 44,484,155
2076 101,225,562 44,400,339
2075 100,835,197 44,306,882
2074 100,422,464 44,209,517
2073 99,987,171 44,102,028
2072 99,519,193 43,965,642
2071 99,028,293 43,821,617
2070 98,515,267 43,678,154
2069 97,978,409 43,530,683
2068 97,414,394 43,348,487
2067 96,829,083 43,154,741
2066 96,216,770 42,944,885
2065 95,585,451 42,695,249
2064 94,929,481 42,445,036
2063 94,252,826 42,198,056
2062 93,548,321 41,949,014
2061 92,824,672 41,695,586
2060 92,085,725 41,410,547
2059 91,330,716 41,097,942
2058 90,557,051 40,815,606
2057 89,770,421 40,534,091
2056 88,981,572 40,224,053
2055 88,179,741 39,918,930
2054 87,367,666 39,584,624
2053 86,540,071 39,242,144
2052 85,698,312 38,940,206
2051 84,838,589 38,629,604
2050 83,964,839 38,307,069
2049 83,078,796 37,986,965
2048 82,179,525 37,682,780
2047 81,263,371 37,391,752
2046 80,329,258 37,081,479
2045 79,378,234 36,744,441
2044 78,403,097 36,428,225
2043 77,407,646 36,090,851
2042 76,389,004 35,729,021
2041 75,353,221 35,352,033
2040 74,297,998 34,947,817
2039 73,230,696 34,533,772
2038 72,143,698 34,091,760
2037 71,048,729 33,612,993
2036 69,939,553 33,134,445
2035 68,821,441 32,608,669
2034 67,695,500 32,062,309
2033 66,560,141 31,477,500
2032 65,422,172 30,883,996
2031 64,280,471 30,248,264
2030 63,144,611 29,592,787
2029 62,012,629 28,871,638
2028 60,885,488 28,141,821
2027 59,761,684 27,355,002
2026 58,645,347 26,535,554
2025 57,532,493 25,620,427
2024 56,432,944 24,672,760
2023 55,339,003 23,594,623
2022 54,252,461 22,462,173
2021 53,219,166 21,628,839
2020 52,217,334 21,049,429
2019 51,202,827 20,353,534
2018 50,207,107 19,577,845
2017 49,197,766 19,224,668
2016 48,139,687 19,193,834
2015 47,088,526 19,424,618
2014 46,051,440 20,273,659
2013 44,986,791 21,666,917
2012 43,888,303 22,759,763
2011 42,758,461 22,878,098
2010 41,598,567 22,482,421
2009 40,408,891 21,976,969
2008 39,206,351 21,636,564
2007 38,036,349 20,884,125
2006 36,904,008 19,637,022
2005 35,796,484 18,814,091
2004 34,713,455 18,336,875
2003 33,652,223 17,889,296
2002 32,629,808 17,468,332
2001 31,619,170 17,051,338
2000 30,642,890 16,637,888
1999 29,733,408 16,228,061
1998 28,888,057 15,820,413
1997 28,101,768 15,417,542
1996 27,344,211 15,018,104
1995 26,601,751 14,616,801
1994 25,857,130 14,208,583
1993 25,117,188 13,795,686
1992 24,382,460 13,385,571
1991 23,646,514 12,980,821
1990 22,892,651 12,579,208
1989 22,118,434 12,179,060
1988 21,356,219 11,782,264
1987 20,616,096 11,388,923
1986 19,901,646 11,002,844
1985 19,201,768 10,625,672
1984 18,514,906 10,258,398
1983 17,846,374 9,904,809
1982 17,206,175 9,572,511
1981 16,601,507 9,260,189
1980 16,018,459 8,957,663
1979 15,460,666 8,661,909
1978 14,934,126 8,372,759
1977 14,428,819 8,090,501
1976 13,957,623 7,817,320
1975 13,511,671 7,554,364
1974 13,070,078 7,302,160
1973 12,634,835 7,060,321
1972 12,206,060 6,826,024
1971 11,788,904 6,598,094
1970 11,368,791 6,380,609
1969 10,939,695 6,175,166
1968 10,518,823 5,978,742
1967 10,111,057 5,790,198
1966 9,717,816 5,609,047
1965 9,338,078 5,435,267
1964 8,973,535 5,269,087
1963 8,627,971 5,110,467
1962 8,299,308 4,959,340
1961 7,987,770 4,815,466
1960 7,695,307 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 11,079,079 people (a 23% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Syria
2100 -0.02% -0.16%
2099 -0% -0.13%
2098 0.006% -0.14%
2097 0.03% -0.12%
2096 0.04% -0.06%
2095 0.05% -0.11%
2094 0.07% -0.06%
2093 0.09% -0.07%
2092 0.1% -0.03%
2091 0.12% -0.07%
2090 0.14% 0.002%
2089 0.15% 0.01%
2088 0.16% -0.02%
2087 0.18% -0.04%
2086 0.19% 0.08%
2085 0.21% 0.08%
2084 0.23% 0.06%
2083 0.24% 0.14%
2082 0.26% 0.15%
2081 0.29% 0.22%
2080 0.3% 0.13%
2079 0.32% 0.08%
2078 0.34% 0.1%
2077 0.37% 0.19%
2076 0.39% 0.21%
2075 0.41% 0.22%
2074 0.44% 0.24%
2073 0.47% 0.31%
2072 0.5% 0.33%
2071 0.52% 0.33%
2070 0.55% 0.34%
2069 0.58% 0.42%
2068 0.6% 0.45%
2067 0.64% 0.49%
2066 0.66% 0.58%
2065 0.69% 0.59%
2064 0.72% 0.59%
2063 0.75% 0.59%
2062 0.78% 0.61%
2061 0.8% 0.69%
2060 0.83% 0.76%
2059 0.85% 0.69%
2058 0.88% 0.69%
2057 0.89% 0.77%
2056 0.91% 0.76%
2055 0.93% 0.84%
2054 0.96% 0.87%
2053 0.98% 0.78%
2052 1.01% 0.8%
2051 1.04% 0.84%
2050 1.07% 0.84%
2049 1.09% 0.81%
2048 1.13% 0.78%
2047 1.16% 0.84%
2046 1.2% 0.92%
2045 1.24% 0.87%
2044 1.29% 0.93%
2043 1.33% 1.01%
2042 1.37% 1.07%
2041 1.42% 1.16%
2040 1.46% 1.2%
2039 1.51% 1.3%
2038 1.54% 1.42%
2037 1.59% 1.44%
2036 1.62% 1.61%
2035 1.66% 1.7%
2034 1.71% 1.86%
2033 1.74% 1.92%
2032 1.78% 2.1%
2031 1.8% 2.21%
2030 1.83% 2.5%
2029 1.85% 2.59%
2028 1.88% 2.88%
2027 1.9% 3.09%
2026 1.93% 3.57%
2025 1.95% 3.84%
2024 1.98% 4.57%
2023 2% 5.04%
2022 1.94% 3.85%
2021 1.92% 2.75%
2020 1.98% 3.42%
2019 1.98% 3.96%
2018 2.05% 1.84%
2017 2.2% 0.16%
2016 2.23% -1.19%
2015 2.25% -4.19%
2014 2.37% -6.43%
2013 2.5% -4.8%
2012 2.64% -0.52%
2011 2.79% 1.76%
2010 2.94% 2.3%
2009 3.07% 1.57%
2008 3.08% 3.6%
2007 3.07% 6.35%
2006 3.09% 4.37%
2005 3.12% 2.6%
2004 3.15% 2.5%
2003 3.13% 2.41%
2002 3.2% 2.45%
2001 3.19% 2.48%
2000 3.06% 2.53%
1999 2.93% 2.58%
1998 2.8% 2.61%
1997 2.77% 2.66%
1996 2.79% 2.75%
1995 2.88% 2.87%
1994 2.95% 2.99%
1993 3.01% 3.06%
1992 3.11% 3.12%
1991 3.29% 3.19%
1990 3.5% 3.29%
1989 3.57% 3.37%
1988 3.59% 3.45%
1987 3.59% 3.51%
1986 3.64% 3.55%
1985 3.71% 3.58%
1984 3.75% 3.57%
1983 3.72% 3.47%
1982 3.64% 3.37%
1981 3.64% 3.38%
1980 3.61% 3.41%
1979 3.53% 3.45%
1978 3.5% 3.49%
1977 3.38% 3.49%
1976 3.3% 3.48%
1975 3.38% 3.45%
1974 3.44% 3.43%
1973 3.51% 3.43%
1972 3.54% 3.45%
1971 3.7% 3.41%
1970 3.92% 3.33%
1969 4% 3.29%
1968 4.03% 3.26%
1967 4.05% 3.23%
1966 4.07% 3.2%
1965 4.06% 3.15%
1964 4.01% 3.1%
1963 3.96% 3.05%
1962 3.9% 2.99%
1961 3.8% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kenya grew by 1.95%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Kenya Syria
Current population
59218766
26956472
Population rank 25/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.32%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
20.7 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
1.3 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,012 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +1,099,549 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +1.95% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 5/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -27,330 +421,693
Net migration rank 160/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - 421,693
2024 1,116,695 -19,781 449,784 546,494
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 402,713 757,309
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 369,750 735,142
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 350,560 211,220
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 327,992 269,050
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 293,762 500,985
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 242,530 514,102
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 237,214 -287,501
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 236,007 -124,063
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 253,977 -827,496
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 475,520 -999,267
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 543,950 -256,888
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 558,666 -54,359
2009 1,193,598 7,096 559,314 -52,703
2008 1,174,818 29,612 576,593 -402,393
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 529,162 801,514
2006 1,113,357 15,767 480,616 682,911
2005 1,080,446 5,501 468,960 13,382
2004 1,048,590 31,525 461,209 10,881
2003 1,018,182 24,175 457,000 -33,920
2002 992,044 10,431 453,967 -35,096
2001 963,721 55,052 451,503 -36,383
2000 928,357 5,407 446,211 -34,425
1999 898,484 -13,257 439,261 -31,394
1998 875,511 -70,023 433,447 -26,025
1997 847,493 -80,443 429,887 -31,571
1996 827,326 -79,276 430,765 -30,197
1995 812,391 -75,506 430,172 -28,122
1994 792,702 -40,367 426,996 -12,630
1993 788,579 -61,054 420,244 -8,828
1992 785,018 -43,085 412,878 -4,063
1991 790,030 -60,087 410,830 -10,154
1990 789,087 -11,338 409,177 -6,620
1989 795,622 -24,949 406,111 -8,379
1988 785,652 -31,894 404,285 -8,426
1987 775,124 -48,633 399,159 -8,335
1986 755,606 -53,183 390,821 -9,485
1985 732,739 -35,400 379,231 -6,221
1984 709,639 -33,253 366,768 -5,245
1983 684,587 -23,905 355,375 -9,729
1982 663,109 -43,382 319,664 -721
1981 642,379 -52,761 330,237 -24,536
1980 616,390 -39,920 332,464 -33,114
1979 595,390 -56,280 324,943 -32,793
1978 574,695 -60,718 316,724 -30,567
1977 554,124 -57,493 306,630 -28,275
1976 536,740 -90,990 294,267 -26,268
1975 517,579 -71,421 282,299 -24,389
1974 500,008 -62,973 270,735 -24,242
1973 485,556 -52,102 254,687 -17,502
1972 472,557 -48,466 249,027 -17,610
1971 459,897 -49,671 239,610 -15,167
1970 443,065 -13,064 230,117 -19,594
1969 427,819 369 219,114 -18,749
1968 411,948 1,611 209,454 -16,968
1967 396,920 5,060 199,223 -14,618
1966 382,891 1,616 191,122 -13,434
1965 366,444 8,524 182,560 -12,704
1964 349,322 4,788 174,549 -12,044
1963 332,763 4,246 166,555 -11,817
1962 315,797 4,521 159,155 -11,641
1961 298,463 4,296 151,485 -11,237
1960 280,032 2,134 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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