📜 A long story
Kenya, 1800 → today
Kenya grew from 2.57 million in 1800 to 55.3 million; a newborn can expect 39.7 more years of life than in 1927, and output per person is 5.2× its 1904 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 2.57 million people lived in Kenya.
1900
3.95 million people.
1.5× the 1800 level
1950
5.77 million people.
1.5× the 1900 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1944.
2023
55.3 million people, the latest year in this series.
9.6× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 1974.
Reached 10 times the 1800 level in 1994.
Reached 20 times the 1800 level in 2020.
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1927
In 1927, a newborn in Kenya could expect to live 23.9 years, on average.
1950
36.9 years.
+13 years since 1927
2023
63.6 years, the latest year in this series.
+27 years since 1950
Passed 40 years in 1954.
Passed 50 years in 1962.
Passed 60 years in 1983.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover. Dashed stretches are years without data.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1904
In 1904, Kenya produced about Int$652 per person, in 2011 prices.
1950
Int$1,040.
1.6× the 1904 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 21% between 1927 and 1929 (Int$1,150 → Int$907).
2022
Int$3,400, the latest year in this series.
3.3× the 1950 level
Reached twice the 1904 level in 1967.
Reached 5 times the 1904 level in 2021.
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates. Dashed stretches are years without data.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1950
In 1950, fossil fuels and industry in Kenya emitted about 0.2 t of CO₂ per person.
2024
0.4 t, the latest year in this series.
2.4× the 1950 level
Reached twice the 1950 level in 1956.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 50% between 1981 and 1985 (0.4 t → 0.2 t).
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in Kenya had spent 0.01 years in school, on average.
1900
0.03 years.
about the same as 1870
1950
1.2 years.
+1.2 years since 1900
2015
6.3 years, the latest year in this series.
+5.1 years since 1950
Passed 2 years in 1970.
Passed 4 years in 1985.
Passed 6 years in 2005.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).