Kenya’s Population Stands at 47.6 million, Women Outnumber Males

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Kenya’s total population is 47, 564, 296 according to the National Population and Housing Census.

Director-General of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Zachary Mwangi said, “The population has grown to 47.6 million in 2019 from 37.7 million in 2009 and the intersex population has declined to 2.2% in 2019 from 2.9% in 2009.

According to the results presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, the total male population was established to be 23, 548, 056 while the female population stands at 24, 014, 716.

In the results, women marginally outnumber the men. “We see that the female accounted for 50.5%,” said Mr. Mwangi while noting that the intersex population has declined from 10 years ago.

The total number of intersex people, who were for the first time accounted for in the national census, stands at 1,564.

Nairobi County has the highest number of people at 4.4 million of which 2,192,452 are male while 2,204,376 are female. Kiambu County ranks second with 2,417,735 people followed by Nakuru with 2,162,202.

Lamu County has the lowest population with 143,920, followed by Isiolo with 268,002 and Samburu with 310,327.

“This is the first census to be conducted under the 2010 Constitution and was by and large fully funded by my Government,” said President Kenyatta. “I, therefore, direct all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to utilise these results. I urge other arms of Government, counties, stakeholders and development partners to make use of the results in their planning processes.”

The 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC) was conducted in August 2019. It was the first paperless, where Mobile technology was used during mapping and enumeration, in adherence to the  United Nations principles and recommendations for conducting the 2020 round of censuses.

Growth Slowest Pace Since 1963

The results show that Kenya’s population grew at the slowest pace since 1963 at 2.2 percent attributed to higher literacy levels among women. This was slow compared to 2.9 percent growth recorded in 2009 and 1999 census.

The average household size declined to 3.9 percent in 2019 compared to 4.2 percent as per the 2009 population results.

The full census report will be released by August next year giving more information on household incomes, age brackets, individual wealth and other key socioeconomic characteristics.

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In September,  Renaissance Capital Ltd.’s Global Chief Economist Charles Robertson, B said based on current trends Kenya’s fertility rate is expected to drop to below three children per woman in the next decade, from just above four currently. A drop in the fertility rate will boost household savings.