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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 3.4 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Kenya vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Zimbabwe
2100 105,238,162 37,483,053
2099 105,257,438 37,412,398
2098 105,257,489 37,328,255
2097 105,250,948 37,235,542
2096 105,220,085 37,142,915
2095 105,175,623 37,032,129
2094 105,118,372 36,912,747
2093 105,046,907 36,810,893
2092 104,955,024 36,688,511
2091 104,846,805 36,567,262
2090 104,718,130 36,425,606
2089 104,573,271 36,280,973
2088 104,414,197 36,141,446
2087 104,243,505 35,977,638
2086 104,056,143 35,808,135
2085 103,854,891 35,637,092
2084 103,640,244 35,456,207
2083 103,407,124 35,268,035
2082 103,158,580 35,078,904
2081 102,889,291 34,873,129
2080 102,594,978 34,658,962
2079 102,286,967 34,439,720
2078 101,961,280 34,217,295
2077 101,613,181 33,982,909
2076 101,239,843 33,739,228
2075 100,849,423 33,495,867
2074 100,436,632 33,244,838
2073 100,001,277 32,978,488
2072 99,533,234 32,706,059
2071 99,042,264 32,445,747
2070 98,529,166 32,181,119
2069 97,992,232 31,906,793
2068 97,428,138 31,631,000
2067 96,842,744 31,345,338
2066 96,230,345 31,062,884
2065 95,598,937 30,766,830
2064 94,942,874 30,479,939
2063 94,266,124 30,176,104
2062 93,561,519 29,867,679
2061 92,837,768 29,557,068
2060 92,098,717 29,252,423
2059 91,343,602 28,945,088
2058 90,569,828 28,631,679
2057 89,783,087 28,307,305
2056 88,994,126 27,990,713
2055 88,192,182 27,658,887
2054 87,379,992 27,331,920
2053 86,552,281 26,986,935
2052 85,710,403 26,643,553
2051 84,850,558 26,287,592
2050 83,976,685 25,934,893
2049 83,090,517 25,585,239
2048 82,191,119 25,228,082
2047 81,274,836 24,874,649
2046 80,340,592 24,513,443
2045 79,389,433 24,147,637
2044 78,414,158 23,783,088
2043 77,418,567 23,401,965
2042 76,399,781 23,035,288
2041 75,363,853 22,647,950
2040 74,308,480 22,273,520
2039 73,241,028 21,902,980
2038 72,153,876 21,530,130
2037 71,058,753 21,159,664
2036 69,949,421 20,791,034
2035 68,831,151 20,413,656
2034 67,705,051 20,048,019
2033 66,569,532 19,676,339
2032 65,431,402 19,311,985
2031 64,289,540 18,959,300
2030 63,153,520 18,613,738
2029 62,021,378 18,270,049
2028 60,894,078 17,933,466
2027 59,770,115 17,600,984
2026 58,653,621 17,273,208
2025 57,540,609 16,949,303
2024 56,432,944 16,634,373
2023 55,339,003 16,340,822
2022 54,252,461 16,069,056
2021 53,219,166 15,797,210
2020 52,217,334 15,526,888
2019 51,202,827 15,271,368
2018 50,207,107 15,034,452
2017 49,197,766 14,812,482
2016 48,139,687 14,600,294
2015 47,088,526 14,399,013
2014 46,051,440 14,207,359
2013 44,986,791 14,013,808
2012 43,888,303 13,817,887
2011 42,758,461 13,595,424
2010 41,598,567 13,356,548
2009 40,408,891 13,142,790
2008 39,206,351 12,959,149
2007 38,036,349 12,804,058
2006 36,904,008 12,636,445
2005 35,796,484 12,483,432
2004 34,713,455 12,365,896
2003 33,652,223 12,232,323
2002 32,629,808 12,087,653
2001 31,619,170 11,971,901
2000 30,642,890 11,892,055
1999 29,733,408 11,783,458
1998 28,888,057 11,594,297
1997 28,101,768 11,369,827
1996 27,344,211 11,158,360
1995 26,601,751 10,974,599
1994 25,857,130 10,873,148
1993 25,117,188 10,860,288
1992 24,382,460 10,702,700
1991 23,646,514 10,404,816
1990 22,892,651 10,137,281
1989 22,118,434 9,864,798
1988 21,356,219 9,583,094
1987 20,616,096 9,284,644
1986 19,901,646 8,982,578
1985 19,201,768 8,686,813
1984 18,514,906 8,391,488
1983 17,846,374 8,098,404
1982 17,206,175 7,796,496
1981 16,601,507 7,498,635
1980 16,018,459 7,041,303
1979 15,460,666 6,647,556
1978 14,934,126 6,543,575
1977 14,428,819 6,449,512
1976 13,957,623 6,287,105
1975 13,511,671 6,098,658
1974 13,070,078 5,908,328
1973 12,634,835 5,720,404
1972 12,206,060 5,542,445
1971 11,788,904 5,374,712
1970 11,368,791 5,215,918
1969 10,939,695 5,058,181
1968 10,518,823 4,900,440
1967 10,111,057 4,748,307
1966 9,717,816 4,601,217
1965 9,338,078 4,458,462
1964 8,973,535 4,320,006
1963 8,627,971 4,185,877
1962 8,299,308 4,055,959
1961 7,987,770 3,930,401
1960 7,695,307 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Zimbabwe
2100 -0.02% 0.19%
2099 -0% 0.23%
2098 0.006% 0.25%
2097 0.03% 0.25%
2096 0.04% 0.3%
2095 0.05% 0.32%
2094 0.07% 0.28%
2093 0.09% 0.33%
2092 0.1% 0.33%
2091 0.12% 0.39%
2090 0.14% 0.4%
2089 0.15% 0.39%
2088 0.16% 0.46%
2087 0.18% 0.47%
2086 0.19% 0.48%
2085 0.21% 0.51%
2084 0.23% 0.53%
2083 0.24% 0.54%
2082 0.26% 0.59%
2081 0.29% 0.62%
2080 0.3% 0.64%
2079 0.32% 0.65%
2078 0.34% 0.69%
2077 0.37% 0.72%
2076 0.39% 0.73%
2075 0.41% 0.76%
2074 0.44% 0.81%
2073 0.47% 0.83%
2072 0.5% 0.8%
2071 0.52% 0.82%
2070 0.55% 0.86%
2069 0.58% 0.87%
2068 0.6% 0.91%
2067 0.64% 0.91%
2066 0.66% 0.96%
2065 0.69% 0.94%
2064 0.72% 1.01%
2063 0.75% 1.03%
2062 0.78% 1.05%
2061 0.8% 1.04%
2060 0.83% 1.06%
2059 0.85% 1.09%
2058 0.88% 1.15%
2057 0.89% 1.13%
2056 0.91% 1.2%
2055 0.93% 1.2%
2054 0.96% 1.28%
2053 0.98% 1.29%
2052 1.01% 1.35%
2051 1.04% 1.36%
2050 1.07% 1.37%
2049 1.09% 1.42%
2048 1.13% 1.42%
2047 1.16% 1.47%
2046 1.2% 1.51%
2045 1.24% 1.53%
2044 1.29% 1.63%
2043 1.33% 1.59%
2042 1.37% 1.71%
2041 1.42% 1.68%
2040 1.46% 1.69%
2039 1.51% 1.73%
2038 1.54% 1.75%
2037 1.59% 1.77%
2036 1.62% 1.85%
2035 1.66% 1.82%
2034 1.71% 1.89%
2033 1.74% 1.89%
2032 1.78% 1.86%
2031 1.8% 1.86%
2030 1.83% 1.88%
2029 1.85% 1.88%
2028 1.88% 1.89%
2027 1.9% 1.9%
2026 1.93% 1.91%
2025 1.96% 1.89%
2024 1.98% 1.8%
2023 2% 1.69%
2022 1.94% 1.72%
2021 1.92% 1.74%
2020 1.98% 1.67%
2019 1.98% 1.58%
2018 2.05% 1.5%
2017 2.2% 1.45%
2016 2.23% 1.4%
2015 2.25% 1.35%
2014 2.37% 1.38%
2013 2.5% 1.42%
2012 2.64% 1.64%
2011 2.79% 1.79%
2010 2.94% 1.63%
2009 3.07% 1.42%
2008 3.08% 1.21%
2007 3.07% 1.33%
2006 3.09% 1.23%
2005 3.12% 0.95%
2004 3.15% 1.09%
2003 3.13% 1.2%
2002 3.2% 0.97%
2001 3.19% 0.67%
2000 3.06% 0.92%
1999 2.93% 1.63%
1998 2.8% 1.97%
1997 2.77% 1.9%
1996 2.79% 1.67%
1995 2.88% 0.93%
1994 2.95% 0.12%
1993 3.01% 1.47%
1992 3.11% 2.86%
1991 3.29% 2.64%
1990 3.5% 2.76%
1989 3.57% 2.94%
1988 3.59% 3.21%
1987 3.59% 3.36%
1986 3.64% 3.4%
1985 3.71% 3.52%
1984 3.75% 3.62%
1983 3.72% 3.87%
1982 3.64% 3.97%
1981 3.64% 6.49%
1980 3.61% 5.92%
1979 3.53% 1.59%
1978 3.5% 1.46%
1977 3.38% 2.58%
1976 3.3% 3.09%
1975 3.38% 3.22%
1974 3.44% 3.29%
1973 3.51% 3.21%
1972 3.54% 3.12%
1971 3.7% 3.04%
1970 3.92% 3.12%
1969 4% 3.22%
1968 4.03% 3.2%
1967 4.05% 3.2%
1966 4.07% 3.2%
1965 4.06% 3.2%
1964 4.01% 3.2%
1963 3.96% 3.2%
1962 3.9% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Kenya Zimbabwe
Current population
58955623
17361868
Population rank 25/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.21%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +804
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 60/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -27,330 -54,555
Net migration rank 160/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - -54,555
2024 - -19,781 - -60,528
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 372,505 -97,380
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 371,243 -102,828
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 349,908 -74,623
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 354,790 -89,440
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 348,798 -103,107
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 345,883 -117,758
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 344,035 -128,241
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 348,772 -140,181
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 356,203 -162,220
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 366,350 -177,029
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 374,757 -176,972
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 371,135 -177,061
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 359,572 -108,714
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 335,570 -108,671
2009 1,193,598 7,096 309,316 -108,689
2008 1,174,818 29,612 280,527 -113,858
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 261,805 -118,299
2006 1,113,357 15,767 248,963 -57,257
2005 1,080,446 5,501 248,545 -134,212
2004 1,048,590 31,525 248,307 -127,550
2003 1,018,182 24,175 243,057 -96,667
2002 992,044 10,431 244,170 -101,212
2001 963,721 55,052 227,909 -139,361
2000 928,357 5,407 236,343 -165,181
1999 898,484 -13,257 232,393 -86,343
1998 875,511 -70,023 225,614 6,645
1997 847,493 -80,443 216,288 395
1996 827,326 -79,276 205,269 978
1995 812,391 -75,506 206,695 -45,428
1994 792,702 -40,367 216,343 -174,723
1993 788,579 -61,054 228,045 -243,947
1992 785,018 -43,085 255,291 75,788
1991 790,030 -60,087 260,943 3,749
1990 789,087 -11,338 265,444 4,948
1989 795,622 -24,949 270,838 3,736
1988 785,652 -31,894 277,498 11,327
1987 775,124 -48,633 286,766 21,308
1986 755,606 -53,183 289,894 6,154
1985 732,739 -35,400 290,756 4,718
1984 709,639 -33,253 290,052 5,124
1983 684,587 -23,905 286,545 4,456
1982 663,109 -43,382 279,934 32,899
1981 642,379 -52,761 271,361 11,523
1980 616,390 -39,920 241,179 390,593
1979 595,390 -56,280 223,657 -67,937
1978 574,695 -60,718 222,979 -170,727
1977 554,124 -57,493 225,139 -89,270
1976 536,740 -90,990 221,419 -32,495
1975 517,579 -71,421 216,947 -28,988
1974 500,008 -62,973 208,806 -16,105
1973 485,556 -52,102 201,885 -18,733
1972 472,557 -48,466 193,725 -20,959
1971 459,897 -49,671 185,427 -22,719
1970 443,065 -13,064 178,979 -24,102
1969 427,819 369 172,626 -12,028
1968 411,948 1,611 166,865 -11,997
1967 396,920 5,060 161,205 -11,814
1966 382,891 1,616 156,014 -11,211
1965 366,444 8,524 151,164 -10,465
1964 349,322 4,788 145,848 -9,631
1963 332,763 4,246 140,984 -8,936
1962 315,797 4,521 136,317 -8,529
1961 298,463 4,296 131,531 -8,204
1960 280,032 2,134 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/kenya/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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