Air passengers in Kenya
Kenya: Air passengers was 5.14 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Kenya, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Kenya is 5.14 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.8% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Kenya peaked at 6.42 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 171,500, in 1970.
That places Kenya 61st out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 171,500 | — |
| 1971 | 188,000 | +9.6% |
| 1972 | 216,800 | +15.3% |
| 1973 | 340,800 | +57.2% |
| 1974 | 382,800 | +12.3% |
| 1975 | 361,500 | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 449,600 | +24.4% |
| 1977 | 237,300 | -47.2% |
| 1978 | 363,300 | +53.1% |
| 1979 | 377,400 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 392,500 | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 408,700 | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 391,300 | -4.3% |
| 1983 | 435,500 | +11.3% |
| 1984 | 479,200 | +10.0% |
| 1985 | 558,700 | +16.6% |
| 1986 | 611,300 | +9.4% |
| 1987 | 655,800 | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 720,900 | +9.9% |
| 1989 | 760,500 | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 794,400 | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 759,900 | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 721,400 | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 769,500 | +6.7% |
| 1994 | 753,500 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 740,400 | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 778,600 | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 835,700 | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 1.14 million | +36.2% |
| 1999 | 1.36 million | +19.3% |
| 2000 | 1.55 million | +14.5% |
| 2001 | 1.42 million | -8.8% |
| 2002 | 1.60 million | +12.8% |
| 2003 | 1.68 million | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 2.01 million | +19.5% |
| 2005 | 2.42 million | +20.9% |
| 2006 | 2.69 million | +10.8% |
| 2007 | 2.86 million | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 2.88 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 2.95 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 4.04 million | +37.0% |
| 2011 | 4.51 million | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 4.65 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 4.52 million | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 4.45 million | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 4.57 million | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 4.85 million | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 5.11 million | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 5.91 million | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 6.42 million | +8.7% |
| 2020 | 1.87 million | -70.9% |
| 2021 | 2.46 million | +31.8% |
| 2022 | 3.73 million | +51.6% |
| 2023 | 5.14 million | +37.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 5.14 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 7.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 5.14 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 46.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -70.9% | 6.42 million | 1.87 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 308,900 | 171,500 | 449,600 | 10 |
| 1980s | 541,440 | 391,300 | 760,500 | 10 |
| 1990s | 864,960 | 721,400 | 1.36 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.21 million | 1.42 million | 2.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.90 million | 4.04 million | 6.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.30 million | 1.87 million | 5.14 million | 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 air passengers in Kenya?
- Air passengers in Kenya was 5.14 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.42 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 171,500 in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for air passengers?
- Kenya ranks 61st out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.