2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Reports

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has released additional reports of the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC). Volumes II, III and IV of the reports present additional demographic and socio-economic information gathered during the census.

The first volume of the census reports had been published in November 2019, presenting the population by country and sub-county. From this report, Kenya’s population is 47.5 million, or 12.2 households. The country’s average household size is 3.9. The second volume of this report presents the distribution of population by administrative units, and distributed by gender, number of households, land area, and population density. From this, Nairobi County emerges as the most populous region, with a population of 4,3 million residents, or 1,4 million households. This is followed by Kiambu county, which was estimated to have 2,4 million or 795,241 households, and Nakuru county, which had 2,1 million residents or 616, 046 households. Volume III of the report breaks down the population by age, sex and administrative units. This report presents that Kenya still has a predominantly youthful population, as illustrated below.

Source: KNBS, 2019[1]

In Volume IV of the reports presents the distribution of population by socioeconomic characteristics, including education, activity status, housing conditions and amenities, agriculture, disability, religious affiliation, access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and ownership of household assets.[2]

Some notable housing-related statistics emerging from this report are listed below:

• Total Population 47.5 million
• Households – 12.2 million.
• Average Household Size (Kenya) – 3.9.

Most populous regions –

• Nairobi City County – 4,3 million residents (1,4 million households)
• Kiambu county – 2,4 million (795,241 households)
• Nakuru county – 2,1 million (616, 046 households)

With the exception of these three areas, the rest are fairly small to medium sized areas, which points to a more distributed pattern of small to medium size towns.

Cities of Kisumu and Mombasa –

• Kisumu (1.14 million residents or 300, 745 households)
• Mombasa (1,19 million residents or 378,422 households)

Home ownership:

Kenya – 61.3% owning and 38.7% renting.

Urban areas – 21.3% owning and 78.7% renting.

Rural areas –  86.6 % owning and 13,4 % renting.

Own construction (among homeowners):

Majority of home owning households have constructed their own houses.

Nationally: 93.9% own construction, 3.3% inherited, and 2.8% purchased.

Urban areas: 80.6% own construction, 10.2% purchased, and 9.1% inherited.

Rural areas: 96% own construction, 2.4% inherited, and 1.6% purchased.

Rental housing providers:

The main suppliers of rental housing are individual investors.

• Nationally – 88,5% of all rental units are rented from individuals.
• Urban areas – 89.3% are renting from individuals, and
• Rural areas – 85.4% – are renting from individuals.

The second ‘largest’ provider of rental housing is private companies, which provide 6,0% of rental units countrywide, 7.3% in rural areas, and 5.6% in urban.

Public sector housing (National government, County government and Parastatals combined) provide very little rental stock, even compared to private companies.

Click on the links below to access the reports.

• Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County
• Volume II: Distribution of Population by Administrative Units
• Volume III: Distribution of Population by Age, Sex and Administrative Units
• Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics

Find out more on the KNBS website.

[1] Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019. 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census. Volume III: Distribution of Population by Age and Sex. Pg. 12. December 2019. Accessed from https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=2019-kenya-population-and-housing-census-volume-iii-distribution-of-population-by-age-sex-and-administrative-units

[2] Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019. 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census. Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics. December 2019. Accessed from https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=2019-kenya-population-and-housing-census-volume-iv-distribution-of-population-by-socio-economic-characteristics