Kenya: Provinces, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Centers - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information

Provinces

The population of the former provinces of Kenya according to census results and latest official projections,

Name	Abbr.	Status	Capital	Area A-L (m²)	Population Census (Cf) 1979-08-24	Population Census (Cf) 1989-08-24	Population Census (C) 1999-08-24	Population Census (C) 2009-08-24	Population Census (C) 2019-08-24	Population Projection (P) 2023-07-01
Central	CE	Prov	Nyeri	13,152	2,345,833	3,116,703	3,724,159	4,383,743	5,482,239	5,949,200	1315200	→
Coast	CO	Prov	Mombasa	82,382	1,342,794	1,829,191	2,487,264	3,325,307	4,329,474	4,717,500	8238200	→
Eastern	EA	Prov	Embu	153,328	2,719,851	3,768,677	4,631,779	5,668,123	6,821,049	7,281,900	15332800	→
Nairobi	NA	CpDst	Nairobi	704	827,775	1,324,570	2,143,254	3,138,369	4,397,073	4,750,100	70400	→
North Eastern	NE	Prov	Garissa	127,449	373,787	371,391	962,143	2,310,757	2,490,073	2,756,900	12744900	→
Nyanza	NY	Prov	Kisumu	12,602	2,643,956	3,507,162	4,392,196	5,442,711	6,269,579	6,776,100	1260200	→
Rift Valley	RV	Prov	Nakuru	182,956	3,240,402	4,981,613	6,987,036	10,006,805	12,752,966	13,910,000	18295600	→
Western	WE	Prov	Kakamega	8,304	1,832,663	2,544,329	3,358,776	4,334,282	5,021,843	5,383,900	830400	→
Kenya	KEN	Rep	Nairobi	580,876	15,327,061	21,443,636	28,686,607	38,610,097	47,564,296	51,525,600		→

The 2009 census figure of North Eastern province differs considerably compared to previous and later population figures. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, this effect is caused by applying strong smoothing techniques that are necessary for compensating the highly inaccurate census results of this province. However, the irregularities may also result from refugees from Somalia.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

Major Cities

	Name	Adm.	Population Census (C) 2019-08-24
1	Nairobi	NA	4,397,073
2	Mombasa	CO	1,208,333
3	Nakuru	RV	570,674
4	Ruiru	CE	490,120
5	Eldoret	RV	475,716
6	Kisumu	NY	397,957
7	Kikuyu	CE	323,881
8	Thika	CE	251,407
9	Naivasha	RV	198,444
10	Karuri	CE	194,342

Contents: Cities, Towns & Urban Centers

The population of all Kenyan cities, towns and urban centers with more than 15,000 inhabitants by census years.

Name	Adm.	Population Census (Cf) 1969-08-24	Population Census (Cf) 1979-08-24	Population Census (Cf) 1989-08-24	Population Census (C) 1999-08-24	Population Census (C) 2009-08-24	Population Census (C) 2019-08-24
Athi River (Mavoko)	EA	...	...	...	22,167	...	81,302	→
Awendo	NY	...	...	...	13,760	17,909	16,815	→
Banisa (Banissa)	NE	...	...	...	...	...	14,974	→
Bondo	NY	...	...	...	7,797	14,478	22,712	→
Bungoma	WE	4,401	25,161	26,805	44,196	54,469	68,031	→
Busia	WE	1,057	5,266	20,781	30,777	39,076	71,886	→
Chuka	EA	...	...	...	6,784	7,614	22,388	→
Elburgon	RV	5,343	...	12,072	...	29,556	28,359	→
Eldama Ravine	RV	2,692	...	6,831	10,518	17,610	21,385	→
Eldoret	RV	18,196	50,503	111,882	167,016	247,500	475,716	→
Elwak	NE	...	...	...	11,128	28,069	60,732	→
Emali	EA	...	...	...	3,649	7,024	18,325	→
Embu	EA	3,928	15,986	26,525	31,500	34,825	64,979	→
Garbatula	EA	...	...	...	1,991	...	17,443	→
Garissa	NE	...	14,076	31,319	50,955	109,224	163,399	→
Gilgil	RV	4,178	9,103	14,034	20,362	39,016	60,711	→
Githunguri	EA	...	...	...	...	...	63,319	→
Habaswein	NE	...	...	...	...	8,280	49,599	→
Hola	CO	...	...	...	...	11,492	20,912	→
Homa Bay	NY	3,252	7,489	23,335	32,174	28,593	44,949	→
Isebania	NY	...	...	...	...	...	23,891	→
Isiolo	EA	8,201	11,331	16,824	28,854	43,746	78,650	→
Juja	CE	...	...	...	6,009	40,183	156,041	→
Kabarnet	RV	...	...	...	9,583	17,269	22,474	→
Kajiado	RV	1,755	...	...	9,128	14,205	24,678	→
Kakamega	WE	6,244	32,025	...	57,128	67,170	107,227	→
Kakuma	RV	...	...	...	9,107	31,581	22,984	→
Kapsabet	RV	2,298	...	10,537	17,918	23,303	41,997	→
Karatina	CE	2,436	...	...	6,852	8,362	23,552	→
Karuri	CE	...	...	14,929	19,746	107,754	194,342	→
Kehancha	NY	...	...	...	11,819	...	22,194	→
Kenol	CE	...	...	...	...	...	44,086	→
Kericho	RV	10,144	...	...	30,023	40,813	53,804	→
Kerugoya	CE	1,938	...	9,585	14,056	20,121	30,045	→
Kiambu	CE	2,776	...	6,522	13,814	75,203	147,870	→
Kikuyu	CE	...	...	...	...	200,285	323,881	→
Kilifi	CO	2,662	...	14,145	30,394	43,388	74,270	→
Kimilili	WE	723	...	5,483	10,261	40,928	56,050	→
Kiminini	RV	...	...	...	...	5,523	16,560	→
Kiserian	RV	...	...	...	...	14,086	76,903	→
Kisii	NY	6,080	29,661	44,149	...	60,222	112,417	→
Kisumu	NY	32,431	152,643	192,733	194,390	254,016	397,957	→
Kitale	RV	11,573	28,327	56,218	63,245	98,071	162,174	→
Kitengela	RV	...	...	...	...	56,984	154,436	→
Kitui	EA	3,071	...	9,305	13,244	19,067	29,062	→
Lafey	NE	...	...	...	...	...	22,882	→
Lamu	CO	7,403	...	...	...	12,767	25,385	→
Limuru	CE	1,286	...	...	...	61,306	81,316	→
Lodwar	RV	...	...	13,619	16,981	44,153	82,970	→
Machakos	EA	6,312	...	...	28,891	40,819	63,767	→
Mai Mahiu	RV	...	...	...	...	10,783	20,823	→
Mairo Inya	CE	...	...	...	3,580	...	30,527	→
Makindu	EA	...	...	...	6,226	7,766	15,038	→
Makutano (Kapenguria)	RV	1,790	...	7,729	12,984	20,456	28,469	→
Malaba	WE	...	...	...	7,302	15,626	15,581	→
Malindi	CO	10,757	23,275	34,047	53,805	82,747	119,859	→
Mandera	NE	946	13,126	22,699	30,433	57,186	114,718	→
Maralal	RV	3,878	...	8,962	16,281	15,213	31,350	→
Mariakani	CO	...	...	8,372	10,987	30,671	31,715	→
Marsabit	EA	6,635	...	...	13,862	14,474	36,289	→
Masalani	NE	...	...	...	...	13,900	43,642	→
Maua	EA	...	...	...	9,763	14,753	22,121	→
Mazeras	CO	...	...	...	...	...	16,254	→
Mbale (Vihiga)	WE	...	...	...	...	36,380	17,404	→
Mbita (Mbita Point)	NY	...	...	...	6,103	10,720	14,916	→
Meru	EA	4,475	...	...	...	43,146	80,191	→
Migori	NY	2,066	...	12,274	31,644	52,418	71,668	→
Mlolongo	EA	...	...	...	...	...	136,351	→
Moi's Bridge	WE	...	...	...	...	14,146	16,355	→
Molo (Turi)	RV	4,240	...	11,175	20,944	32,572	48,356	→
Mombasa	CO	247,073	341,148	461,753	665,018	905,627	1,208,333	→
Moyale	EA	...	...	7,049	13,944	27,632	47,850	→
Msambweni	CO	...	...	...	...	12,503	14,951	→
Mtwapa	CO	...	...	...	18,397	48,426	90,677	→
Mumias	WE	697	...	23,668	36,158	38,623	41,942	→
Murang'a	CE	4,750	15,290	21,650	...	23,723	43,314	→
Mwingi	EA	...	...	3,742	10,138	14,900	17,025	→
Nairobi	NA	509,286	827,775	1,324,570	2,143,254	3,109,861	4,397,073	→
Naivasha	RV	6,920	11,491	...	32,222	91,898	198,444	→
Nakuru	RV	47,151	92,851	163,927	219,366	343,395	570,674	→
Namanga	RV	...	...	...	6,205	9,004	14,922	→
Nanyuki	RV	11,624	18,986	24,070	31,577	38,339	72,813	→
Narok	RV	2,608	...	11,629	24,091	37,129	65,430	→
Ngong	RV	1,583	...	8,775	20,701	103,927	102,323	→
Njoro	RV	3,037	...	...	16,510	23,770	42,173	→
Nyahururu	RV	7,602	11,277	14,829	24,751	40,803	37,650	→
Nyamira	NY	...	...	...	9,971	12,657	24,483	→
Nyeri	CE	10,004	35,753	...	46,969	61,187	80,081	→
Ongata Rongai	RV	...	...	17,288	35,874	39,951	172,569	→
Oyugis	NY	...	...	...	9,084	8,917	19,947	→
Rhamu	NE	...	...	...	7,437	23,894	35,644	→
Rongo	NY	...	...	...	6,175	12,282	20,688	→
Ruiru	CE	1,674	1,718	23,316	79,741	238,329	490,120	→
Siaya	NY	...	4,022	...	13,787	22,182	33,153	→
Takaba	NE	...	...	...	2,931	21,271	21,517	→
Taveta	CO	...	...	...	11,495	16,889	22,018	→
Thika	CE	18,387	41,324	57,603	82,665	136,386	251,407	→
Ukunda	CO	...	...	...	43,946	60,489	77,686	→
Voi	CO	5,313	...	13,202	16,863	16,136	53,353	→
Wajir	NE	...	...	...	...	16,188	90,116	→
Wanguru	CE	...	...	...	8,181	17,581	51,722	→
Watamu	CO	...	...	...	...	9,407	27,857	→
Webuye	WE	...	...	...	19,606	23,364	42,642	→
Wote	EA	...	...	...	5,542	9,433	19,725	→

The presented population figures refer to core urban areas.
(1969) Republic of Kenya, Statistics Division: Kenya Population Census 1969, Vol. II, Data on Urban Population,1971.
(1979) (1989) Kenya Population Census 1989, Vol. II, and Analytical Report, Vol. VI (provided by James Nealis).
(1999) (2009) (2019) Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

Population Structure

Further information about the population structure.

Gender (P 2023)
Males	25,549,285
Females	25,976,317

Age Groups (P 2023)
0-14 years	18,374,515
15-64 years	31,140,323
65+ years	2,010,764

Age Distribution (P 2023)
80+ years	504,581
70-79 years	857,801
60-69 years	1,517,409
50-59 years	2,723,471
40-49 years	4,775,691
30-39 years	7,275,980
20-29 years	9,892,007
10-19 years	11,519,864
0-9 years	12,458,798

Urbanization (C 2019)
Rural	32,732,596
Urban	14,831,700

Religion (C 2019)
Catholic	9,726,169
Protestant	15,777,473
Evangelical	9,648,690
Other Christian	5,226,747
Islam	5,152,194
Hindu	60,287
Traditional	318,727
Other religion	467,083
No religion	755,750