Labor force, total in Kenya
Kenya: Labor force, total was 24.71 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Kenya stood at 24.71 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Kenya peaked at 24.71 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8.49 million, in 1990.
Kenya ranks 29th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.49 million | — |
| 1991 | 8.81 million | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 9.12 million | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 9.44 million | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 9.77 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 10.11 million | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 10.44 million | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 10.78 million | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 11.14 million | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 11.52 million | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 11.98 million | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 12.48 million | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 12.99 million | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 13.50 million | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 14.03 million | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 14.56 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 15.09 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 15.62 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 16.16 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 16.72 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 17.28 million | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 17.86 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 18.44 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 19.04 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 19.66 million | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 20.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 20.95 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 20.98 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 20.96 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 20.88 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 21.27 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 22.01 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 22.68 million | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 23.35 million | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 24.03 million | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 24.71 million | +2.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 24.71 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 4.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 24.71 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 4.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.96 million | 8.49 million | 11.52 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.31 million | 11.98 million | 16.72 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.63 million | 17.28 million | 20.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.01 million | 21.27 million | 24.71 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Kenya?
- Labor force, total in Kenya was 24.71 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 24.71 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.49 million in 1990.
- How does Kenya rank for labor force, total?
- Kenya ranks 29th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.