Agricultural population in Kenya
Kenya: Agricultural population was 29.74 million FAO, number in 2012. ▲ Rising
Agricultural population in Kenya, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural population in Kenya is 29.74 million FAO, number, measured in 2012. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural population in Kenya peaked at 29.74 million FAO, number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 13.37 million FAO, number, in 1980.
That places Kenya 5th out of 53 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Agricultural population in Kenya, year by year
| Year | FAO, number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 13.37 million FAO, number | — |
| 1981 | 13.84 million FAO, number | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 14.34 million FAO, number | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 14.84 million FAO, number | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 15.36 million FAO, number | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 15.89 million FAO, number | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 16.43 million FAO, number | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 16.97 million FAO, number | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 17.53 million FAO, number | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 18.09 million FAO, number | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 18.65 million FAO, number | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 19.19 million FAO, number | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 19.73 million FAO, number | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 20.26 million FAO, number | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 20.78 million FAO, number | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 21.27 million FAO, number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 21.75 million FAO, number | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 22.21 million FAO, number | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 22.66 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 23.12 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 23.58 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 24.05 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 24.54 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 25.03 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 25.53 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 26.03 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 26.54 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 27.04 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 27.54 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 28.07 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 28.61 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 29.16 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 29.74 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 29.74 million FAO, number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.27 million FAO, number, 4.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 29.74 million FAO, number is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.16 million FAO, number, 4.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.66 million FAO, number | 13.37 million FAO, number | 18.09 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.96 million FAO, number | 18.65 million FAO, number | 23.12 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.79 million FAO, number | 23.58 million FAO, number | 28.07 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.17 million FAO, number | 28.61 million FAO, number | 29.74 million FAO, number | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More environment data for Kenya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.08 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.12 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural population in Kenya?
- Agricultural population in Kenya was 29.74 million FAO, number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest agricultural population recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 29.74 million FAO, number in 2012.
- What is the lowest agricultural population recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.37 million FAO, number in 1980.
- How does Kenya rank for agricultural population?
- Kenya ranks 5th out of 53 countries with data for 2012.
- Is agricultural population rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The Agricultural Population is defined as all persons depending for their livelihood on agriculture, hunting, fishing or forestry. This estimate comprises all persons actively engaged in agriculture and their non-working dependants. The Agricultural Population series are estimated by FAO based on the total population series obtained from UN Population Division ("World population prospects: The 2008 Revision") and the ratios of labour force in total population and agricultural labour force in total labour force from ILO: ("Economically active population, 1950-2010: The 4th Revision", ILO, Geneva, 1996). Direct information on agricultural population derived from national population censuses or surveys is scarce.