Age dependency breakdown in Kenya
Kenya: Age dependency breakdown was 4.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
4.9%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
218th
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.8%
in 1950
All-time low
3.9%
in 2010
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency breakdown in Kenya, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 4.9% for age dependency breakdown in 2023.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency breakdown in Kenya peaked at 10.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2010.
Kenya ranks 218th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Age dependency breakdown in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.8% | — |
| 1951 | 10.2% | -5.1% |
| 1952 | 9.7% | -5.0% |
| 1953 | 9.2% | -4.8% |
| 1954 | 8.8% | -4.7% |
| 1955 | 8.4% | -4.7% |
| 1956 | 8.0% | -4.6% |
| 1957 | 7.6% | -4.6% |
| 1958 | 7.3% | -4.5% |
| 1959 | 7.0% | -4.5% |
| 1960 | 6.7% | -4.6% |
| 1961 | 6.4% | -4.5% |
| 1962 | 6.1% | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 5.9% | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 5.6% | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 5.5% | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 5.3% | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 5.2% | -2.4% |
| 1968 | 5.1% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 5.0% | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 4.7% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 4.6% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 4.6% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 4.5% | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 4.5% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 4.5% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 4.5% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4.4% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +0.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 4.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 4.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.7%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.7% | 7.0% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.7% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency breakdown in Kenya?
- Age dependency breakdown in Kenya was 4.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency breakdown recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 10.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest age dependency breakdown recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2010.
- How does Kenya rank for age dependency breakdown?
- Kenya ranks 218th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency breakdown rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency breakdown. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).