Population in largest city in Kenya
Kenya: Population in largest city was 5.77 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in largest city in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Kenya recorded 5.77 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 47.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Kenya peaked at 5.77 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 292,622, in 1960.
Kenya ranks 40th of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 395,534 | 292,622 | 505,003 | 10 |
| 1970s | 666,903 | 530,741 | 821,846 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.07 million | 861,661 | 1.32 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 million | 1.38 million | 2.13 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.64 million | 2.21 million | 3.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.86 million | 3.24 million | 4.56 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.23 million | 4.73 million | 5.77 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More urban development data for Kenya
- Population in the largest city 31.1% (2025)
- Population density 95.27 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 7.32 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guidel 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Kenya?
- Population in largest city in Kenya was 5.77 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.77 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 292,622 in 1960.
- How does Kenya rank for population in largest city?
- Kenya ranks 40th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.