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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 2.6 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.99% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Kenya vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Zambia
2100 105,238,162 65,217,429
2099 105,257,438 64,871,545
2098 105,257,489 64,515,891
2097 105,250,948 64,148,736
2096 105,220,085 63,777,313
2095 105,175,623 63,393,169
2094 105,118,372 62,992,652
2093 105,046,907 62,590,327
2092 104,955,024 62,175,930
2091 104,846,805 61,750,591
2090 104,718,130 61,321,399
2089 104,573,271 60,880,148
2088 104,414,197 60,434,676
2087 104,243,505 59,970,107
2086 104,056,143 59,499,234
2085 103,854,891 59,023,040
2084 103,640,244 58,535,857
2083 103,407,124 58,040,512
2082 103,158,580 57,538,672
2081 102,889,291 57,027,491
2080 102,594,978 56,506,421
2079 102,286,967 55,983,242
2078 101,961,280 55,449,777
2077 101,613,181 54,906,771
2076 101,239,843 54,361,075
2075 100,849,423 53,806,856
2074 100,436,632 53,246,777
2073 100,001,277 52,677,348
2072 99,533,234 52,101,139
2071 99,042,264 51,519,691
2070 98,529,166 50,931,614
2069 97,992,232 50,334,700
2068 97,428,138 49,737,479
2067 96,842,744 49,135,488
2066 96,230,345 48,530,443
2065 95,598,937 47,918,592
2064 94,942,874 47,299,740
2063 94,266,124 46,677,439
2062 93,561,519 46,048,819
2061 92,837,768 45,416,657
2060 92,098,717 44,777,347
2059 91,343,602 44,137,306
2058 90,569,828 43,494,451
2057 89,783,087 42,851,923
2056 88,994,126 42,206,898
2055 88,192,182 41,558,284
2054 87,379,992 40,906,492
2053 86,552,281 40,255,629
2052 85,710,403 39,603,888
2051 84,850,558 38,949,958
2050 83,976,685 38,294,607
2049 83,090,517 37,634,194
2048 82,191,119 36,971,309
2047 81,274,836 36,309,749
2046 80,340,592 35,645,868
2045 79,389,433 34,981,812
2044 78,414,158 34,316,981
2043 77,418,567 33,652,420
2042 76,399,781 32,990,657
2041 75,363,853 32,329,447
2040 74,308,480 31,664,262
2039 73,241,028 31,001,305
2038 72,153,876 30,335,662
2037 71,058,753 29,668,561
2036 69,949,421 29,000,264
2035 68,831,151 28,333,498
2034 67,705,051 27,671,195
2033 66,569,532 27,011,974
2032 65,431,402 26,356,580
2031 64,289,540 25,702,812
2030 63,153,520 25,055,216
2029 62,021,378 24,414,405
2028 60,894,078 23,780,809
2027 59,770,115 23,151,479
2026 58,653,621 22,529,742
2025 57,540,609 21,918,187
2024 56,432,944 21,314,956
2023 55,339,003 20,723,965
2022 54,252,461 20,152,938
2021 53,219,166 19,603,607
2020 52,217,334 19,059,395
2019 51,202,827 18,513,839
2018 50,207,107 17,973,569
2017 49,197,766 17,441,320
2016 48,139,687 16,914,423
2015 47,088,526 16,399,089
2014 46,051,440 15,895,315
2013 44,986,791 15,398,997
2012 43,888,303 14,913,629
2011 42,758,461 14,437,796
2010 41,598,567 13,965,594
2009 40,408,891 13,490,389
2008 39,206,351 13,021,324
2007 38,036,349 12,565,085
2006 36,904,008 12,129,553
2005 35,796,484 11,718,819
2004 34,713,455 11,338,198
2003 33,652,223 10,983,595
2002 32,629,808 10,647,949
2001 31,619,170 10,325,185
2000 30,642,890 10,017,631
1999 29,733,408 9,740,005
1998 28,888,057 9,482,408
1997 28,101,768 9,237,063
1996 27,344,211 9,004,053
1995 26,601,751 8,785,763
1994 25,857,130 8,576,269
1993 25,117,188 8,373,921
1992 24,382,460 8,176,680
1991 23,646,514 7,981,650
1990 22,892,651 7,786,169
1989 22,118,434 7,589,216
1988 21,356,219 7,391,440
1987 20,616,096 7,191,282
1986 19,901,646 6,986,471
1985 19,201,768 6,780,953
1984 18,514,906 6,580,490
1983 17,846,374 6,381,038
1982 17,206,175 6,178,637
1981 16,601,507 5,983,289
1980 16,018,459 5,802,833
1979 15,460,666 5,631,728
1978 14,934,126 5,465,374
1977 14,428,819 5,302,480
1976 13,957,623 5,143,842
1975 13,511,671 4,990,086
1974 13,070,078 4,842,746
1973 12,634,835 4,702,693
1972 12,206,060 4,569,309
1971 11,788,904 4,442,525
1970 11,368,791 4,321,718
1969 10,939,695 4,197,116
1968 10,518,823 4,065,593
1967 10,111,057 3,936,343
1966 9,717,816 3,812,003
1965 9,338,078 3,692,086
1964 8,973,535 3,577,017
1963 8,627,971 3,465,907
1962 8,299,308 3,358,099
1961 7,987,770 3,254,086
1960 7,695,307 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Zambia
2100 -0.02% 0.53%
2099 -0% 0.55%
2098 0.006% 0.57%
2097 0.03% 0.58%
2096 0.04% 0.61%
2095 0.05% 0.64%
2094 0.07% 0.64%
2093 0.09% 0.67%
2092 0.1% 0.69%
2091 0.12% 0.7%
2090 0.14% 0.72%
2089 0.15% 0.74%
2088 0.16% 0.77%
2087 0.18% 0.79%
2086 0.19% 0.81%
2085 0.21% 0.83%
2084 0.23% 0.85%
2083 0.24% 0.87%
2082 0.26% 0.9%
2081 0.29% 0.92%
2080 0.3% 0.93%
2079 0.32% 0.96%
2078 0.34% 0.99%
2077 0.37% 1%
2076 0.39% 1.03%
2075 0.41% 1.05%
2074 0.44% 1.08%
2073 0.47% 1.11%
2072 0.5% 1.13%
2071 0.52% 1.15%
2070 0.55% 1.19%
2069 0.58% 1.2%
2068 0.6% 1.23%
2067 0.64% 1.25%
2066 0.66% 1.28%
2065 0.69% 1.31%
2064 0.72% 1.33%
2063 0.75% 1.37%
2062 0.78% 1.39%
2061 0.8% 1.43%
2060 0.83% 1.45%
2059 0.85% 1.48%
2058 0.88% 1.5%
2057 0.89% 1.53%
2056 0.91% 1.56%
2055 0.93% 1.59%
2054 0.96% 1.62%
2053 0.98% 1.65%
2052 1.01% 1.68%
2051 1.04% 1.71%
2050 1.07% 1.75%
2049 1.09% 1.79%
2048 1.13% 1.82%
2047 1.16% 1.86%
2046 1.2% 1.9%
2045 1.24% 1.94%
2044 1.29% 1.97%
2043 1.33% 2.01%
2042 1.37% 2.05%
2041 1.42% 2.1%
2040 1.46% 2.14%
2039 1.51% 2.19%
2038 1.54% 2.25%
2037 1.59% 2.3%
2036 1.62% 2.35%
2035 1.66% 2.39%
2034 1.71% 2.44%
2033 1.74% 2.49%
2032 1.78% 2.54%
2031 1.8% 2.58%
2030 1.83% 2.62%
2029 1.85% 2.66%
2028 1.88% 2.72%
2027 1.9% 2.76%
2026 1.93% 2.79%
2025 1.96% 2.83%
2024 1.98% 2.85%
2023 2% 2.83%
2022 1.94% 2.8%
2021 1.92% 2.86%
2020 1.98% 2.95%
2019 1.98% 3.01%
2018 2.05% 3.05%
2017 2.2% 3.12%
2016 2.23% 3.14%
2015 2.25% 3.17%
2014 2.37% 3.22%
2013 2.5% 3.25%
2012 2.64% 3.3%
2011 2.79% 3.38%
2010 2.94% 3.52%
2009 3.07% 3.6%
2008 3.08% 3.63%
2007 3.07% 3.59%
2006 3.09% 3.5%
2005 3.12% 3.36%
2004 3.15% 3.23%
2003 3.13% 3.15%
2002 3.2% 3.13%
2001 3.19% 3.07%
2000 3.06% 2.85%
1999 2.93% 2.72%
1998 2.8% 2.66%
1997 2.77% 2.59%
1996 2.79% 2.48%
1995 2.88% 2.44%
1994 2.95% 2.42%
1993 3.01% 2.41%
1992 3.11% 2.44%
1991 3.29% 2.51%
1990 3.5% 2.6%
1989 3.57% 2.68%
1988 3.59% 2.78%
1987 3.59% 2.93%
1986 3.64% 3.03%
1985 3.71% 3.05%
1984 3.75% 3.13%
1983 3.72% 3.28%
1982 3.64% 3.26%
1981 3.64% 3.11%
1980 3.61% 3.04%
1979 3.53% 3.04%
1978 3.5% 3.07%
1977 3.38% 3.08%
1976 3.3% 3.08%
1975 3.38% 3.04%
1974 3.44% 2.98%
1973 3.51% 2.92%
1972 3.54% 2.85%
1971 3.7% 2.8%
1970 3.92% 2.97%
1969 4% 3.24%
1968 4.03% 3.28%
1967 4.05% 3.26%
1966 4.07% 3.25%
1965 4.06% 3.22%
1964 4.01% 3.21%
1963 3.96% 3.21%
1962 3.9% 3.2%
1961 3.8% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Kenya Zambia
Current population
58955623
22697916
Population rank 25/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.27%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
21 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
1.32 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 21/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -27,330 +6,562
Net migration rank 160/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - 6,562
2024 - -19,781 - 7,381
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 577,660 9,521
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 563,456 -8,566
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 535,629 8,143
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 536,484 8,156
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 528,089 18,385
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 515,644 18,431
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 504,630 25,789
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 497,521 25,860
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 491,021 16,261
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 483,663 16,574
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 476,846 15,542
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 469,406 8,958
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 459,743 13,569
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 448,337 22,761
2009 1,193,598 7,096 434,458 44,867
2008 1,174,818 29,612 419,560 39,249
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 403,729 49,945
2006 1,113,357 15,767 387,891 29,517
2005 1,080,446 5,501 368,756 35,316
2004 1,048,590 31,525 349,352 7,819
2003 1,018,182 24,175 331,189 20,845
2002 992,044 10,431 316,041 3,206
2001 963,721 55,052 302,682 23,582
2000 928,357 5,407 293,186 -4,338
1999 898,484 -13,257 283,297 -16,888
1998 875,511 -70,023 275,568 -26,796
1997 847,493 -80,443 268,198 -26,276
1996 827,326 -79,276 262,468 -38,358
1995 812,391 -75,506 257,897 -45,423
1994 792,702 -40,367 252,023 -45,504
1993 788,579 -61,054 245,917 -47,739
1992 785,018 -43,085 239,953 -43,656
1991 790,030 -60,087 237,957 -44,203
1990 789,087 -11,338 235,835 -38,619
1989 795,622 -24,949 233,429 -36,736
1988 785,652 -31,894 230,118 -31,270
1987 775,124 -48,633 227,813 -26,338
1986 755,606 -53,183 224,768 -16,610
1985 732,739 -35,400 221,351 -18,474
1984 709,639 -33,253 216,695 -18,652
1983 684,587 -23,905 212,712 -11,849
1982 663,109 -43,382 207,621 -3,676
1981 642,379 -52,761 202,822 -16,072
1980 616,390 -39,920 198,817 -24,664
1979 595,390 -56,280 197,578 -29,515
1978 574,695 -60,718 194,933 -30,284
1977 554,124 -57,493 191,557 -30,423
1976 536,740 -90,990 186,762 -30,612
1975 517,579 -71,421 182,258 -30,886
1974 500,008 -62,973 174,484 -31,178
1973 485,556 -52,102 168,258 -31,472
1972 472,557 -48,466 161,648 -31,672
1971 459,897 -49,671 155,249 -31,651
1970 443,065 -13,064 149,380 -31,370
1969 427,819 369 142,660 -11,469
1968 411,948 1,611 137,315 -5,447
1967 396,920 5,060 131,938 -5,298
1966 382,891 1,616 127,164 -5,129
1965 366,444 8,524 122,814 -5,023
1964 349,322 4,788 117,197 -4,851
1963 332,763 4,246 114,555 -4,676
1962 315,797 4,521 110,173 -4,428
1961 298,463 4,296 106,318 -4,043
1960 280,032 2,134 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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