Rural population density in Kenya
Kenya: Rural population density was 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
11th
of 53 countries
All-time high
575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2011
All-time low
220.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Kenya, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
In 2011, rural population density in Kenya stood at 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Kenya peaked at 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011 and was at its lowest, 220.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
Kenya ranks 11th of 53 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Kenya, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 220.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 227.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 233.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 240.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 248.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 255.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 263.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 271.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 279.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 288.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 297.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 306.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 315.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 325.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 309.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 318.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 328.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 339.28 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 350.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 361.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 374.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 389.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 403.73 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 427.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 360.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -15.6% |
| 1986 | 371.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 379.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 374.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 358.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 391.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 394.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 391.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 420.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 400.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 412.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 491.35 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +19.2% |
| 1997 | 487.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 512.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 480.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 511.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 498.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 513.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 519.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 519.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 529.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 536.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 548.6 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 560.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 551.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 562.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 248.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 220.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 279.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 317.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 288.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 350.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 380.17 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 358.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 427.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 438.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 391.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 512.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 528.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 498.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 560.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 569.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 562.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 8 Comoros 661.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 9 Democratic Republic of Congo 654.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 10 Eritrea 617.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 12 Somalia 540.74 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 13 Lesotho 515.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 14 Ethiopia 482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
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)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 14.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0066 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate 7.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Kenya?
- Rural population density in Kenya was 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 220.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for rural population density?
- Kenya ranks 11th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. 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 and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.