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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 26,829,400 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 +2.08% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Kenya vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Syria
2100 105,238,162 44,620,090
2099 105,257,438 44,690,260
2098 105,257,489 44,750,249
2097 105,250,948 44,813,148
2096 105,220,085 44,867,740
2095 105,175,623 44,895,489
2094 105,118,372 44,945,231
2093 105,046,907 44,974,311
2092 104,955,024 45,003,795
2091 104,846,805 45,016,478
2090 104,718,130 45,048,083
2089 104,573,271 45,047,102
2088 104,414,197 45,041,864
2087 104,243,505 45,049,516
2086 104,056,143 45,068,928
2085 103,854,891 45,034,847
2084 103,640,244 44,999,929
2083 103,407,124 44,971,600
2082 103,158,580 44,910,859
2081 102,889,291 44,843,908
2080 102,594,978 44,744,718
2079 102,286,967 44,687,371
2078 101,961,280 44,649,760
2077 101,613,181 44,604,175
2076 101,239,843 44,520,132
2075 100,849,423 44,426,423
2074 100,436,632 44,328,795
2073 100,001,277 44,221,016
2072 99,533,234 44,084,262
2071 99,042,264 43,939,848
2070 98,529,166 43,795,999
2069 97,992,232 43,648,130
2068 97,428,138 43,465,442
2067 96,842,744 43,271,173
2066 96,230,345 43,060,752
2065 95,598,937 42,810,442
2064 94,942,874 42,559,554
2063 94,266,124 42,311,907
2062 93,561,519 42,062,193
2061 92,837,768 41,808,082
2060 92,098,717 41,522,274
2059 91,343,602 41,208,825
2058 90,569,828 40,925,728
2057 89,783,087 40,643,453
2056 88,994,126 40,332,578
2055 88,192,182 40,026,632
2054 87,379,992 39,691,425
2053 86,552,281 39,348,020
2052 85,710,403 39,045,268
2051 84,850,558 38,733,827
2050 83,976,685 38,410,423
2049 83,090,517 38,089,455
2048 82,191,119 37,784,449
2047 81,274,836 37,492,636
2046 80,340,592 37,181,526
2045 79,389,433 36,843,579
2044 78,414,158 36,526,509
2043 77,418,567 36,188,225
2042 76,399,781 35,825,419
2041 75,363,853 35,447,414
2040 74,308,480 35,042,107
2039 73,241,028 34,626,945
2038 72,153,876 34,183,740
2037 71,058,753 33,703,682
2036 69,949,421 33,223,843
2035 68,831,151 32,696,648
2034 67,705,051 32,148,814
2033 66,569,532 31,562,427
2032 65,431,402 30,967,322
2031 64,289,540 30,329,874
2030 63,153,520 29,672,629
2029 62,021,378 28,949,535
2028 60,894,078 28,217,748
2027 59,770,115 27,428,807
2026 58,653,621 26,607,148
2025 57,540,609 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 42.4% to 83,976,685 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M 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 1.96% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Kenya Syria
Current population
58955623
26829400
Population rank 25/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.32%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
21 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 6/197
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 - -19,781 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | 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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