 STATISTICS ABOUT POPULATION |
source: East African Industries
| Urban vs. rural population |
The population in Kenya is on the verge of reaching 30 million people. In 1997 Kenya had 28.8 million inhabitants. 50% of them are under 15 years of age. In September 1999 a new census was carried out and results are still being computed.
Most of Kenya's citizens live in the central highlands and the western part of the country. The dry and dessert north is mostly uninhabited (only 1.7% of the population in 20% of the area).
The birth rate (in 1992) was 44 births / 1,000 people, being the mortality rate in the same period of 8 deaths/1000 people. | Despite the high unemployment rates in urban areas, the rural exodus continues rising. This is a cause of growing concern for the Government, since many of these unemployed people, unable to obtain a job are forced to beg or to rob in order to survive.
| Employment |
Formal employment has grown at lower levels than informal employment (that not controlled by the government). The informal sector occupied 3,3 million people in 1998, whereas wage employees amounted to 1,6 million in the same year. |
