Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Africa

five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

536 km

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 37.4%

1,030 sq km (2012)

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

46,790,758

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Christian 83% (Protestant 47.7%, Catholic 23.4%, other Christian 11.9%), Muslim 11.2%, Traditionalists 1.7%, other 1.6%, none 2.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)

Kenya has experienced dramatic population growth since the mid-20th century as a result of its high birth rate and its declining mortality rate. More than 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15 because of sustained high fertility, early marriage and childbearing, and an unmet need for family planning. Kenya’s persistent rapid population growth strains the labor market, social services, arable land, and natural resources. Although Kenya in 1967 was the first sub-Saharan country to launch a nationwide family planning program, progress in reducing the birth rate has largely stalled since the late 1990s, when the government decreased its support for family planning to focus on the HIV epidemic. Government commitment and international technical support spurred Kenyan contraceptive use, decreasing the fertility rate (children per woman) from about 8 in the late 1970s to less than 5 children twenty years later, but it has plateaued at just over 3 children today.

Kenya is a source of emigrants and a host country for refugees. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kenyans pursued higher education in the UK because of colonial ties, but as British immigration rules tightened, the US, the then Soviet Union, and Canada became attractive study destinations. Kenya’s stagnant economy and political problems during the 1980s and 1990s led to an outpouring of Kenyan students and professionals seeking permanent opportunities in the West and southern Africa. Nevertheless, Kenya’s relative stability since its independence in 1963 has attracted hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping violent conflicts in neighboring countries; Kenya presently shelters nearly 400,000 Somali refugees.

1.81% (2016 est.)

25.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

NAIROBI (capital) 3.915 million; Mombassa 1.104 million (2015)

20.3

510 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

3.14 children born/woman (2016 est.)

45.5% (2008/09)

5.7% of GDP (2014)

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 81.6% of population

rural: 56.8% of population

total: 63.2% of population

urban: 18.4% of population

rural: 43.2% of population

total: 36.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 31.2% of population

rural: 29.7% of population

total: 30.1% of population

urban: 68.8% of population

rural: 70.3% of population

total: 69.9% of population (2015 est.)

5.91% (2015 est.)

1,517,700 (2015 est.)

35,800 (2015 est.)

5.9% (2014)

11% (2014)

5.3% of GDP (2015)

presidential republic

47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot

12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 12 December (1963); Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963); Mashujaa Day (or Heroes' Day), 20 October (2010)

previous 1963, 1969; latest drafted 6 May 2010, passed by referendum 4 August 2010, promulgated 27 August 2010 (2016)

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in a new Supreme Court established pursuant to the new constitution

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Alliance Party of Kenya or APK [Kiraitu MURUNGI]

Amani National Congress [Musalia MUDAVADI]

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy or CORD (includes ODM, WDM-K, FORD-K) [Raila ODINGA]

Federal Party of Kenya or FPK [Cyrus JIRONGA]

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K [Moses WETANGULA]

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-P [Henry OBWOCHA]

Jubilee Party [Uhuru KENYATTA]

Kenya African National Union or KANU [Gideon MOI]

National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Charity NGILU]

Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya or ODM [Raila ODINGA]

Wiper Democratic Movement-K or WDM-K (formerly Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K) [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]

African Center for Open Governance [Gladwell OTIENO]

Anglican Church of Kenya [Archbishop Jackson Nasoore Ole SAPIT]

Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Mohammed KHALIFA]

Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya

Kenya Association of Manufacturers

Kenya Human Rights Commission or KHRC [George KEGORO]

Kenya Private Sector Alliance

Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (umbrella group of more than 30 NGOs)

Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]

National Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI]

Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI]

Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal John NJUE]

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Adan WACHU, secretary general]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom

lion; national colors: black, red, green, white

Kenya is the economic and transport hub of East Africa. Kenya’s real GDP growth has averaged over 5% for the last seven years. Since 2014 Kenya has been ranked as a lower middle income country because its per capita GDP crossed a World Bank threshold. While Kenya has a growing entrepreneurial middle class and faster growth, its economic and development trajectory is threatened by weak governance and corruption. Unemployment and under-employment are high, but reliable numbers are hard to find.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing 25% of GDP. About 80% of Kenya’s population of roughly 42 million work at least part-time in the agricultural sector, including livestock and pastoral activities. Over 75% of agricultural output is from small-scale, rain-fed farming or livestock production.

Inadequate infrastructure continues to hamper Kenya’s efforts to improve its economic growth to the 8-10% range so that it can meaningfully address poverty and unemployment. The KENYATTA administration sought external investment in infrastructure development. International financial institutions and donors remain important to Kenya's economic growth and development, but Kenya has also successfully raised capital in the global bond market. Kenya issued its first sovereign bond offering in mid-2014. Nairobi has contracted with a Chinese company to construct a new standard gauge railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi, with completion expected in 2017. The country is in the process of devolving some state revenues and responsibilities to the counties. Inflationary pressures and sharp currency depreciation peaked in early 2012 but have since abated following low global food and fuel prices and monetary interventions by the Central Bank. Chronic budget deficits, including a shortage of funds in mid-2015, hampered the government’s ability to implement proposed development programs, but the economy is back in balance with many indicators, including foreign exchange reserves, interest rates, inflation, and FDI moving in the right direction.

Tourism holds a significant place in Kenya’s economy. Multiple terror attacks by the Somalia-based group al-Shabaab in the time since the 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate mall, which killed at least 67, had a negative effect on international tourism earnings, but the sector is starting to recover. Kenya’s success in hosting a series of incident-free high-profile events in the second half of 2015, including the visit of US President Obama, has helped improve the outlook for tourism.

$152.7 billion (2016 est.)

$144.1 billion (2015 est.)

$136.4 billion (2014 est.)

$69.17 billion (2015 est.)

6% (2016 est.)

5.6% (2015 est.)

5.3% (2014 est.)

$3,400 (2016 est.)

$3,300 (2015 est.)

$3,200 (2014 est.)

16.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

12.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

12.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, fish, pork, poultry, eggs

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism

6.6% (2016 est.)

18.66 million (2016 est.)

40% (2013 est.)

40% (2001 est.)

43.4% (2012 est.)

42.5 (2008 est.)

44.9 (1997)

18.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

-7.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

50.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

48% of GDP (2015 est.)

1 July - 30 June

6.1% (2016 est.)

6.6% (2015 est.)

11.5% (20 January 2016)

7% (31 December 2010)

17.5% (31 December 2016 est.)

16.09% (31 December 2015 est.)

$11.07 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$9.927 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$24.02 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$31.52 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$27.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$26.16 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$22.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$14.79 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

-$4.444 billion (2016 est.)

-$4.31 billion (2015 est.)

$6.363 billion (2016 est.)

$5.982 billion (2015 est.)

tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Uganda 11.2%, US 8.3%, Tanzania 8.1%, Netherlands 7.4%, UK 6%, Pakistan 4.2% (2015)

$16.34 billion (2016 est.)

$15.56 billion (2015 est.)

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

China 30%, India 15.5%, UAE 5.7%, US 4.8%, Japan 4.7% (2015)

$7.374 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$7.548 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$20.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$17.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$5.537 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.662 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA (31 December 2016 est.)

$NA (31 December 2015 est.)

Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -

102 (2016 est.)

98.179 (2015 est.)

98.179 (2014 est.)

87.921 (2013 est.)

84.53 (2012 est.)

9.2 billion kWh (2014 est.)

7.6 billion kWh (2014 est.)

38 million kWh (2014 est.)

79 million kWh (2014 est.)

2.281 million kW (2015 est.)

42.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

43.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

13.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

11,270 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)

12,610 bbl/day (2013 est.)

92,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

575.3 bbl/day (2013 est.)

82,950 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

13 million Mt (2013 est.)

about a half-dozen large-scale privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates (2014)

.ke

5Y (2016)

197 (2013)

oil 4 km; refined products 928 km (2013)

none specifically; the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania (2011)

Kenya Defence Forces: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2012)

18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy); applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate; women serve under the same terms and conditions as men; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2012)

1.96% of GDP (2012)

1.88% of GDP (2011)

1.96% of GDP (2010)

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to an estimated 580,000 refugees, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times

widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities