SafekipediaDemographics of Kenya
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Kenya is a country in East Africa with many different groups of people living together. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics keeps track of information about the people who live there. As of the 2019 census, Kenya had a population of 47,558,296 people.
The country has grown quickly over the years. In 1979, there were about 15.3 million people, but by 2019, that number more than tripled to 47.6 million. This growth happened at an average rate of more than 3 percent each year for many years. Even though the growth slowed down a bit in the 2000s, Kenya still has a large and growing population.
Kenya also has many people who have come from other countries seeking safety. As of 2024, there were around 770,255 refugees and asylum seekers living in Kenya. The country has had censuses to count its people, but some of these counts were difficult because of questions about ethnic groups after some violent events.
Population
According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects, Kenya's population was 53,005,614 in 2021. In 1950, the population was much smaller at 6,077,000, and around 1,700,000 in 1900. In 2010, about 42.5% of people were children under 15 years old, with 54.9% between 15 and 65 years old, and only 2.7% were 65 years or older.
The 2019 census showed the population by sex and age group.
The 2019 census also provided more details on population by sex and age, including everyone.
The United Nations has made predictions for Kenya's population growth. By 2020, they expect about 52,563,000 people, growing to around 96,887,000 by 2050.
| Year | Total population | Population percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aged 0–14 | aged 15–64 | aged 65+ | ||
| 1950 | 6 077 000 | 39.8% | 56.3% | 3.9% |
| 1955 | 6 980 000 | 42.8% | 53.4% | 3.8% |
| 1960 | 8 105 000 | 46.4% | 49.9% | 3.7% |
| 1965 | 9 505 000 | 48.4% | 48.0% | 3.6% |
| 1970 | 11 252 000 | 49.1% | 47.5% | 3.4% |
| 1975 | 13 486 000 | 49.6% | 47.1% | 3.3% |
| 1980 | 16 268 000 | 50.0% | 47.1% | 3.0% |
| 1985 | 19 655 000 | 50.0% | 47.2% | 2.8% |
| 1990 | 23 447 000 | 49.0% | 48.3% | 2.7% |
| 1995 | 27 426 000 | 46.5% | 50.8% | 2.7% |
| 2000 | 31 254 000 | 44.3% | 52.9% | 2.8% |
| 2005 | 35 615 000 | 42.7% | 54.5% | 2.8% |
| 2010 | 40 513 000 | 42.5% | 54.9% | 2.7% |
| 2019 | 47 564 296 | 39.0% | 57.1% | 3.9% |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 19 192 458 | 19 417 639 | 38 610 097 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 3 000 439 | 2 938 867 | 5 939 306 | 15.38 |
| 5–9 | 2 832 669 | 2 765 047 | 5 597 716 | 14.50 |
| 10–14 | 2 565 313 | 2 469 542 | 5 034 855 | 13.04 |
| 15–19 | 2 123 653 | 2 045 890 | 4 169 543 | 10.80 |
| 20–24 | 1 754 105 | 2 020 998 | 3 775 103 | 9.78 |
| 25–29 | 1 529 116 | 1 672 110 | 3 201 226 | 8.29 |
| 30–34 | 1 257 035 | 1 262 471 | 2 519 506 | 6.53 |
| 35–39 | 1 004 361 | 1 004 271 | 2 008 632 | 5.20 |
| 40–44 | 743 594 | 732 575 | 1 476 169 | 3.82 |
| 45–49 | 635 276 | 637 469 | 1 272 745 | 3.30 |
| 50–54 | 478 346 | 477 860 | 956 206 | 2.48 |
| 55–59 | 359 466 | 352 497 | 711 953 | 1.84 |
| 60–64 | 295 197 | 298 581 | 593 778 | 1.54 |
| 65-69 | 183 151 | 207 612 | 390 763 | 1.01 |
| 70-74 | 160 301 | 179 000 | 339 301 | 0.88 |
| 75-79 | 99 833 | 118 675 | 218 508 | 0.57 |
| 80+ | 159 125 | 224 576 | 383 701 | 0.99 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 8 398 421 | 8 173 456 | 16 571 877 | 42.92 |
| 15–64 | 10 191 627 | 10 514 320 | 20 705 947 | 53.63 |
| 65+ | 602 410 | 729 863 | 1 332 273 | 3.45 |
| Unknown | 11 478 | 9 608 | 21 086 | 0.05 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23 544 372 | 24 011 270 | 47 557 157 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 3 005 496 | 2 985 484 | 5 991 128 | 12.60 |
| 5–9 | 3 116 101 | 3 084 445 | 6 200 719 | 13.04 |
| 10–14 | 3 209 544 | 3 136 149 | 6 345 864 | 13.34 |
| 15–19 | 2 686 476 | 2 599 905 | 5 286 535 | 11.12 |
| 20–24 | 2 112 777 | 2 335 052 | 4 448 037 | 9.35 |
| 25–29 | 1 839 256 | 2 014 546 | 3 853 955 | 8.10 |
| 30–34 | 1 698 354 | 1 871 625 | 3 570 133 | 7.51 |
| 35–39 | 1 347 962 | 1 301 624 | 2 649 679 | 5.57 |
| 40–44 | 1 156 932 | 1 101 867 | 2 258 861 | 4.75 |
| 45–49 | 916 166 | 869 740 | 1 785 957 | 3.76 |
| 50–54 | 662 864 | 645 463 | 1 308 371 | 2.75 |
| 55–59 | 546 852 | 571 000 | 1 117 878 | 2.35 |
| 60–64 | 419 362 | 450 447 | 869 837 | 1.83 |
| 65-69 | 311 281 | 346 756 | 658 052 | 1.38 |
| 70-74 | 235 929 | 278 507 | 514 453 | 1.08 |
| 75-79 | 119 265 | 163 799 | 283 071 | 0.60 |
| 80-84 | 82 909 | 120 944 | 203 856 | 0.43 |
| 85-89 | 43 948 | 69 635 | 113 587 | 0.24 |
| 90-94 | 19 225 | 35 866 | 55 095 | 0.12 |
| 95-99 | 9 768 | 18 233 | 28 001 | 0.06 |
| 100+ | 3 905 | 10 183 | 14 088 | 0.03 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 9 331 141 | 9 206 078 | 18 537 711 | 38.98 |
| 15–64 | 13 387 001 | 13 761 269 | 27 149 243 | 57.09 |
| 65+ | 826 230 | 1 043 923 | 1 870 203 | 3.93 |
| Province | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Kenya (country total) | 47,564,296 |
| Nairobi (capital city) | 4,397,073 |
| Central | 5,482,239 |
| Coast | 4,329,474 |
| Eastern | 6,821,049 |
| North Eastern | 2,490,073 |
| Nyanza | 6,269,579 |
| Rift valley | 12,752,966 |
| Western | 5,021,843 |
Vital statistics
Registration of important life events, like births and deaths, is not fully done in Kenya. The Population Department of the United Nations made some guesses about these events.
The Total Fertility Rate and Crude Birth Rate are ways to measure how many babies are born.
Fertility information from 2014 is available from the DHS Program.
| Period | Population per year | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR* | CDR* | NC* | TFR* | IMR* | Life expectancy (in years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5 712 000 | 285,000 | 167,000 | 118,000 | 49.5 | 28.9 | 20.6 | 7.33 | 162.2 | 38.90 |
| 1951 | 5 836 000 | 299,000 | 166,000 | 133,000 | 50.7 | 28.1 | 22.6 | 7.36 | 161.2 | 39.09 |
| 1952 | 5 975 000 | 313,000 | 168,000 | 146,000 | 51.8 | 27.8 | 24.1 | 7.39 | 159.4 | 38.95 |
| 1953 | 6 122 000 | 328,000 | 163,000 | 165,000 | 52.8 | 26.3 | 26.5 | 7.42 | 152.2 | 40.32 |
| 1954 | 6 282 000 | 342,000 | 159,000 | 183,000 | 53.7 | 25.0 | 28.7 | 7.45 | 145.3 | 41.69 |
| 1955 | 6 461 000 | 356,000 | 156,000 | 200,000 | 54.3 | 23.8 | 30.5 | 7.48 | 138.9 | 42.96 |
| 1956 | 6 657 000 | 372,000 | 154,000 | 219,000 | 55.0 | 22.7 | 32.3 | 7.53 | 132.9 | 44.12 |
| 1957 | 6 871 000 | 388,000 | 149,000 | 239,000 | 55.5 | 21.3 | 34.2 | 7.59 | 127.3 | 45.83 |
| 1958 | 7 104 000 | 403,000 | 148,000 | 255,000 | 55.6 | 20.4 | 35.2 | 7.60 | 122.2 | 46.88 |
| 1959 | 7 343 000 | 414,000 | 146,000 | 268,000 | 55.4 | 19.5 | 35.8 | 7.62 | 117.5 | 47.77 |
| 1960 | 7 609 000 | 428,000 | 145,000 | 283,000 | 55.2 | 18.6 | 36.5 | 7.63 | 113.2 | 48.68 |
| 1961 | 7 894 000 | 446,000 | 144,000 | 302,000 | 55.5 | 17.9 | 37.6 | 7.72 | 109.4 | 49.53 |
| 1962 | 8 201 000 | 465,000 | 144,000 | 321,000 | 55.6 | 17.2 | 38.4 | 7.80 | 106.0 | 50.22 |
| 1963 | 8 526 000 | 482,000 | 145,000 | 338,000 | 55.5 | 16.6 | 38.8 | 7.86 | 103.1 | 50.81 |
| 1964 | 8 868 000 | 500,000 | 146,000 | 354,000 | 55.2 | 16.1 | 39.1 | 7.92 | 100.6 | 51.33 |
| 1965 | 9 227 000 | 521,000 | 148,000 | 373,000 | 55.3 | 15.7 | 39.6 | 8.03 | 98.7 | 51.70 |
| 1966 | 9 608 000 | 539,000 | 150,000 | 388,000 | 54.9 | 15.3 | 39.6 | 8.06 | 97.0 | 52.10 |
| 1967 | 9 997 000 | 555,000 | 153,000 | 402,000 | 54.4 | 15.0 | 39.4 | 8.05 | 95.5 | 52.46 |
| 1968 | 10 405 000 | 572,000 | 155,000 | 417,000 | 53.8 | 14.6 | 39.3 | 8.04 | 94.0 | 52.78 |
| 1969 | 10 823 000 | 589,000 | 157,000 | 433,000 | 53.4 | 14.2 | 39.2 | 8.03 | 92.4 | 53.17 |
| 1970 | 11 256 000 | 606,000 | 158,000 | 447,000 | 52.7 | 13.8 | 38.9 | 8.02 | 90.8 | 53.58 |
| 1971 | 11 690 000 | 625,000 | 159,000 | 466,000 | 52.4 | 13.3 | 39.1 | 8.00 | 89.1 | 54.26 |
| 1972 | 12 107 000 | 639,000 | 158,000 | 481,000 | 51.7 | 12.8 | 38.9 | 7.98 | 87.2 | 55.01 |
| 1973 | 12 539 000 | 652,000 | 158,000 | 495,000 | 51.0 | 12.3 | 38.7 | 7.94 | 85.3 | 55.68 |
| 1974 | 12 982 000 | 668,000 | 160,000 | 507,000 | 50.4 | 12.1 | 38.3 | 7.91 | 83.3 | 55.63 |
| 1975 | 13 426 000 | 685,000 | 162,000 | 523,000 | 50.0 | 11.8 | 38.2 | 7.88 | 81.2 | 55.83 |
| 1976 | 13 878 000 | 704,000 | 164,000 | 540,000 | 49.8 | 11.6 | 38.2 | 7.84 | 79.0 | 55.90 |
| 1977 | 14 327 000 | 722,000 | 164,000 | 559,000 | 49.4 | 11.2 | 38.2 | 7.80 | 76.7 | 56.49 |
| 1978 | 14 828 000 | 744,000 | 164,000 | 580,000 | 49.2 | 10.8 | 38.4 | 7.75 | 74.4 | 56.94 |
| 1979 | 15 347 000 | 766,000 | 163,000 | 604,000 | 49.0 | 10.4 | 38.6 | 7.68 | 72.1 | 57.72 |
| 1980 | 15 894 000 | 787,000 | 162,000 | 626,000 | 48.6 | 10.0 | 38.6 | 7.60 | 70.1 | 58.50 |
| 1981 | 16 480 000 | 816,000 | 151,000 | 665,000 | 48.5 | 9.0 | 39.5 | 7.51 | 68.2 | 61.17 |
| 1982 | 17 092 000 | 838,000 | 156,000 | 683,000 | 48.1 | 8.9 | 39.1 | 7.40 | 66.5 | 60.95 |
| 1983 | 17 731 000 | 860,000 | 159,000 | 701,000 | 47.5 | 8.8 | 38.7 | 7.26 | 64.9 | 61.01 |
| 1984 | 18 408 000 | 888,000 | 164,000 | 724,000 | 47.3 | 8.8 | 38.6 | 7.12 | 63.7 | 60.80 |
| 1985 | 19 099 000 | 913,000 | 170,000 | 743,000 | 46.9 | 8.8 | 38.1 | 6.98 | 62.8 | 60.58 |
| 1986 | 19 806 000 | 941,000 | 178,000 | 763,000 | 46.6 | 8.8 | 37.8 | 6.85 | 62.4 | 60.22 |
| 1987 | 20 516 000 | 966,000 | 185,000 | 781,000 | 46.2 | 8.8 | 37.3 | 6.68 | 62.4 | 60.04 |
| 1988 | 21 248 000 | 982,000 | 195,000 | 788,000 | 45.4 | 9.0 | 36.4 | 6.51 | 62.9 | 59.54 |
| 1989 | 22 004 000 | 998,000 | 205,000 | 793,000 | 44.5 | 9.2 | 35.4 | 6.32 | 63.9 | 59.04 |
| 1990 | 22 772 000 | 1,008,000 | 216,000 | 793,000 | 43.5 | 9.3 | 34.2 | 6.13 | 65.2 | 58.61 |
| 1991 | 23 553 000 | 1,019,000 | 228,000 | 791,000 | 42.5 | 9.5 | 33.0 | 5.94 | 66.8 | 58.01 |
| 1992 | 24 284 000 | 1,029,000 | 242,000 | 787,000 | 41.7 | 9.8 | 31.9 | 5.75 | 68.3 | 57.26 |
| 1993 | 25 028 000 | 1,044,000 | 255,000 | 789,000 | 41.1 | 10.0 | 31.0 | 5.57 | 69.4 | 56.62 |
| 1994 | 25 756 000 | 1,062,000 | 266,000 | 796,000 | 40.6 | 10.2 | 30.4 | 5.45 | 70.1 | 56.27 |
| 1995 | 26 512 000 | 1,088,000 | 280,000 | 809,000 | 40.4 | 10.4 | 30.0 | 5.37 | 70.1 | 55.62 |
| 1996 | 27 245 000 | 1,112,000 | 292,000 | 821,000 | 40.2 | 10.5 | 29.7 | 5.31 | 69.7 | 55.16 |
| 1997 | 27 987 000 | 1,139,000 | 303,000 | 836,000 | 40.1 | 10.7 | 29.4 | 5.26 | 68.7 | 54.82 |
| 1998 | 28 742 000 | 1,174,000 | 313,000 | 861,000 | 40.2 | 10.7 | 29.5 | 5.25 | 67.4 | 54.53 |
| 1999 | 29 533 000 | 1,199,000 | 321,000 | 878,000 | 40.0 | 10.1 | 29.3 | 5.18 | 65.6 | 54.50 |
| 2000 | 30 398 000 | 1,232,000 | 329,000 | 903,000 | 39.9 | 9.9 | 29.3 | 5.14 | 63.6 | 54.41 |
| 2001 | 31 306 000 | 1,271,000 | 336,000 | 934,000 | 40.0 | 9.7 | 29.4 | 5.09 | 61.3 | 54.51 |
| 2002 | 32 295 000 | 1,298,000 | 339,000 | 959,000 | 39.6 | 9.5 | 29.3 | 5.02 | 58.9 | 54.99 |
| 2003 | 33 265 000 | 1,318,000 | 337,000 | 981,000 | 39.0 | 9.2 | 29.1 | 4.91 | 56.5 | 55.60 |
| 2004 | 34 270 000 | 1,347,000 | 334,000 | 1,013,000 | 38.7 | 8.9 | 29.1 | 4.83 | 54.0 | 56.36 |
| 2005 | 35 314 000 | 1,380,000 | 328,000 | 1,052,000 | 38.5 | 8.6 | 29.4 | 4.78 | 51.3 | 57.34 |
| 2006 | 36 372 000 | 1,414,000 | 323,000 | 1,091,000 | 38.5 | 8.3 | 30.2 | 4.75 | 48.8 | 58.22 |
| 2007 | 37 479 000 | 1,450,000 | 322,000 | 1,128,000 | 38.3 | 8.1 | 30.2 | 4.72 | 46.5 | 58.87 |
| 2008 | 38 595 000 | 1,471,000 | 317,000 | 1,154,000 | 37.9 | 7.9 | 30.0 | 4.66 | 43.8 | 59.61 |
| 2009 | 39 779 000 | 1,476,000 | 312,000 | 1,164,000 | 37.2 | 7.6 | 29.5 | 4.57 | 41.7 | 60.37 |
| 2010 | 40 950 000 | 1,471,000 | 314,000 | 1,157,000 | 36.3 | 7.4 | 28.8 | 4.45 | 40.2 | 60.65 |
| 2011 | 42 086 000 | 1,461,000 | 317,000 | 1,144,000 | 35.0 | 7.3 | 27.7 | 4.28 | 39.0 | 61.05 |
| 2012 | 43 185 000 | 1,451,000 | 326,000 | 1,125,000 | 33.7 | 7.2 | 26.5 | 4.12 | 38.1 | 61.12 |
| 2013 | 44 267 000 | 1,440,000 | 332,000 | 1,008,000 | 32.4 | 7.2 | 25.3 | 3.96 | 37.0 | 61.39 |
| 2014 | 45 318 000 | 1,436,000 | 335,000 | 1,101,000 | 31.5 | 7.1 | 24.4 | 3.84 | 36.0 | 61.82 |
| 2015 | 46 346 000 | 1,452,000 | 345,000 | 1,107,000 | 30.9 | 7.1 | 23.8 | 3.77 | 34.9 | 61.89 |
| 2016 | 47 357 000 | 1,457,000 | 352,000 | 1,105,000 | 30.2 | 7.2 | 23.0 | 3.69 | 33.8 | 62.16 |
| 2017 | 48 432 000 | 1,458,000 | 357,000 | 1,100,000 | 29.6 | 7.1 | 22.5 | 3.61 | 33.0 | 62.48 |
| 2018 | 49 464 000 | 1,460,000 | 365,000 | 1,094,000 | 29.0 | 7.2 | 21.9 | 3.54 | 32.0 | 62.68 |
| 2019 | 47 564 296 | 1,451,000 | 372,000 | 1,079,000 | 28.2 | 7.3 | 20.9 | 3.43 | 31.1 | 62.94 |
| 2020 | 51 460 000 | 1,456,000 | 388,000 | 1,068,000 | 27.8 | 7.9 | 19.8 | 3.36 | 30.4 | 62.68 |
| 2021 | 53 219 000 | 1,469,000 | 432,000 | 984,000 | 27.6 | 8.1 | 19.5 | 3.31 | 31.1 | 61.2 |
| 2022 | 54 252 000 | 1,483,000 | 391,000 | 1,082,000 | 27.3 | 7.2 | 20.1 | 3.26 | 30.2 | 63.3 |
| 2023 | 55 339 000 | 1,500,000 | 399,000 | 1,091,000 | 27.1 | 7.2 | 19.9 | 3.21 | 29.7 | 63.6 |
| 2024 | 27.0 | 7.2 | 19.8 | 3.17 | ||||||
| 2025 | 26.8 | 7.1 | 19.6 | 3.12 | ||||||
| * CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman) | ||||||||||
| Year | Total | Urban | Rural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | |
| 1977 | 8.1 | |||||
| 1984 | 7.7 | |||||
| 1989 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 7.1 | |||
| 1993 | 35.8 | 5.40 (3.4) | 35.1 | 3.44 (2.5) | 35.9 | 5.80 (3.7) |
| 1998 | 34.6 | 4.70 (3.5) | 33.6 | 3.12 (2.6) | 34.7 | 5.16 (3.8) |
| 2003 | 37.5 | 4.9 (3.6) | 35.3 | 3.3 (2.6) | 38.1 | 5.4 (3.9) |
| 2008–2009 (census) | 34,8 | 4.6 (3.4) | 32.5 | 2.9 (2.5) | 35.3 | 5.2 (3.7) |
| 2014 | 30.5 | 3.9 (3.0) | 31.0 | 3.1 (2.6) | 30.3 | 4.5 (3.4) |
| 2022 | 27.7 | 3.4 (2.9) | 30.1 | 2.7 (2.5) | 26.6 | 4.0 (3.3) |
| Region | Total fertility rate | Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant | Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast | 4.3 | 6.6 | 5.5 |
| North Eastern | 6.4 | 12.0 | 7.1 |
| Eastern | 3.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Central | 2.8 | 4.8 | 3.7 |
| Rift Valley | 4.5 | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Western | 4.7 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Nyanza | 4.3 | 5.9 | 5.8 |
| Nairobi | 2.7 | 6.8 | 3.1 |
Ethnic groups
Kenya has a very diverse population with many different groups of people. The largest groups are Bantu, Cushitic, and Nilotic, making up about 99% of the country’s people. Only about 0.3% of Kenyans come from Asian or European backgrounds.
Bantu people are the largest group in Kenya. Many of them are farmers. Some important Bantu groups include the Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, Kisii, Meru, and Mijikenda. In the 1962 census, the Kikuyu were the largest group, followed by the Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, Kamba, Somalis, Kisii, Mijikenda, Meru, Maasai, and Turkana.
Bantu peoples
Main article: Bantu peoples
Bantu peoples are the largest group in Kenya. They speak languages from the Niger–Congo family and originally came from areas near the border of Cameroon and Nigeria. Over many years, they moved south into East Africa about 2,000 years ago.
Many Bantu groups are farmers. Important groups in Kenya include the Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, Kisii, Meru, and Mijikenda. The Swahili people come from Bantu groups who mixed with people from Arab backgrounds.
Nilotic peoples
Main article: Nilotic peoples
Nilotic peoples are the second-largest group in Kenya. They speak Nilo-Saharan languages and came to East Africa from Western Asia and North Africa through South Sudan. Many Nilotic people are herders. Groups include the Luo, Maasai, Samburu, Iteso, Turkana, and Kalenjin.
Cushitic people
Main article: Cushitic peoples
Cushitic people make up a smaller part of Kenya’s population. They speak Afroasiatic languages and originally came from Ethiopia and Somalia. Many are herders and most follow Islam. They live mainly in the northeastern part of Kenya, near the border with Somalia.
The Cushitic people are split into Southern and Eastern groups. The Southern Cushites moved to Tanzania a long time ago. The Eastern Cushites include the Oromo and Somali. Some Somalis in Kenya have close ties with people in Somalia because borders were drawn long ago.
Indians
Main article: Indians in Kenya
People from Asia in Kenya come mostly from South Asia. Many came to work on the Kenya-Uganda Railway between 1896 and 1901. Most Kenyan Asians are from the Gujarat and Punjab areas. Today, there are about 100,000 Indians in Kenya.
Europeans
Main article: White people in Kenya
Europeans in Kenya are mostly descendants of British people who lived there during colonial times. Today, most work in jobs like air travel, finance, and hotels. There are about 42,868 Europeans with Kenyan citizenship and 26,753 without.
Arabs
Arabs are a small but important group, mostly living along the coast in cities like Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, and Nairobi. Many came from Oman and Yemen and work in trade. In Swahili, they are called Washihiri. There are about 59,021 Arabs in Kenya.
Languages
Main article: Languages of Kenya
In Kenya, different groups of people usually speak their own languages at home. The two main languages used by everyone are English and Swahili. English is often used in business, schools, and government work. People living in towns and villages may speak only their own language.
There are 69 languages spoken in Kenya. Most of these belong to two big groups: the Niger-Congo languages, spoken by many Bantu people, and the Nilo-Saharan languages, spoken by Nilotic people. Some smaller groups, like Cushitic and Arab people, speak Afro-Asiatic languages, while Indian and European people speak Indo-European languages.
Religion
Main article: Religion in Kenya
Most people in Kenya follow different beliefs. About 68.5% are Christian, which includes groups like Protestant, Roman Catholic, Evangelical, and African Instituted Churches. Around 26.2% follow Islam. A small part of the population, about 1.8%, follows other beliefs, while 1.6% do not follow any specific belief, and 0.2% did not specify their beliefs.
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