Kenya Population Pyramid 1981
Kenya
Afghanistan
Africa
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Asia
Australia
Australia/New Zealand
Austria
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Central America
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Chad
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Chile
China
China, Hong Kong SAR
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Costa Rica
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Cuba
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Cyprus
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Dem. People's Republic of Korea
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
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Europe
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Haiti
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Latin America and the Caribbean
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Least developed countries
Lebanon
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Less developed regions
Less developed regions, excluding China
Less developed regions, excluding least developed countries
Liberia
Libya
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Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
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Mauritius
Mayotte
Melanesia
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Micronesia (Fed. States of)
Middle Africa
Mongolia
Montenegro
More developed regions
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
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Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Northern Africa
Northern America
Northern Europe
Norway
Oceania
Oman
Other non-specified areas
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Polynesia
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Réunion
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South America
South Sudan
South-Central Asia
South-Eastern Asia
Southern Africa
Southern Asia
Southern Europe
Spain
Sri Lanka
State of Palestine
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
TFYR Macedonia
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United Republic of Tanzania
United States Virgin Islands
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Viet Nam
Western Africa
Western Asia
Western Europe
Western Sahara
World
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
1981
Population:
16,601,507
Summary
Kenya in 1981
As of 1981, Kenya counted 16,601,508 inhabitants. That is 40.8% more than in 1971, when the population stood at 11,788,904.
The median age was 14.5 years, and for every 100 people of working age (15–64) there were 110.0 children under 15 and 4.4 people aged 65 or over. The pyramid is expansive: its wide base of young cohorts reflects high fertility and a rapidly growing population.
Data source: United Nations World Population Prospects, 2024 revision (medium variant) — last updated July 2024.
Key indicators for Kenya
What is driving the change
Births per woman
Total fertility rate, 1960–2023
12345678
1960Replacement level (2.1)2023 · 3.21
The fertility rate of Kenya was 3.21 births per woman in 2023, above the 2.1 needed to replace each generation.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, latest available year.
Life expectancy at birth
Years, 1960–2023
Total
Women
Men
40506070
19602023 · 63.6
Life expectancy at birth was 63.6 years in 2023: 65.9 for women and 61.5 for men.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, latest available year.
People supported per 100 workers
Dependency ratios, 1950–2100
Children
Older adults
306090120
19502100
Migration to and from Kenya
Where immigrants come from (2024)
927,140 immigrants live in Kenya, 1.6% of the population.
| Somalia | 401,953 |
| Uganda | 274,655 |
| South Sudan | 114,885 |
| D.R. Congo | 41,186 |
| Tanzania | 32,860 |
Where emigrants live (2024)
540,388 people born in Kenya live in other countries.
| United States of America | 210,991 |
| United Kingdom | 137,817 |
| Australia | 30,123 |
| Canada | 29,988 |
| Tanzania | 26,345 |
Explore
Immigration statistics
Origin of migrant stocks map
Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024.
How Kenya compares with its neighbours
| Country | Population | Median age | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 16,601,508 | 14.5 | |
| Uganda | 13,556,452 | 15.9 | |
| Tanzania | 19,784,704 | 16.4 | |
| Mozambique | 11,568,127 | 17.4 | |
| Madagascar | 9,279,011 | 16.4 |
Frequently asked questions about Kenya's population
What was the population of Kenya in 1981?
Kenya had a population of 16,601,508 in 1981.
Is Kenya's population growing or shrinking?
Kenya's population grew 40.8% over the previous ten years, and is projected to reach 83,593,239 by 2050.
How old is the population of Kenya?
Kenya's median age is 14.5 years.
How many children and older people live in Kenya?
2.1% of Kenya's population is 65 or older, and 51.3% is under 15.
What shape is Kenya's population pyramid, and what does it mean?
Kenya's pyramid is expansive — broad at the bottom, the signature of high birth rates and a growing population.
