ARCHIVE // KE // 2011
Kenya
2011 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
[time series]
about a half-dozen privately-owned TV stations and a state-owned television broadcaster that operates 2 channels; satellite and cable TV subscription services are available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; a large number of private radio broadcasters, including provincial stations broadcasting in local languages; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code
[time series]
.ke
Internet users
(Internet hosts)
[time series]
47,676 (2010) country comparison to the world: 90
Internet users
[time series]
3.996 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 59
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line telephone system is small and inefficient; trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system domestic: sole fixed-line provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for privatization; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 50 per 100 persons in 2009 international: country code - 254; The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) and the SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable systems; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
460,100 (2010) country comparison to the world: 101
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
24.969 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 36
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $7.016 billion expenditures: $9.043 billion (2010 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-6.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Central bank discount rate
[time series]
7% (31 December 2010 est.) NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
[time series]
14.37% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 14.8% (31 December 2009 est.)
Current account balance
[time series]
-$2.024 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 -$1.661 billion (2009 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$8.465 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $8.005 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
(Distribution of family income - Gini index)
[time series]
42.5 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 44.9 (1997)
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
Although the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through a drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. In the key December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. After some early progress in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support, the KIBAKI government was rocked by high-level graft scandals in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, the World Bank and IMF delayed loans pending action by the government on corruption. The international financial institutions and donors have since resumed lending, despite little action on the government's part to deal with corruption. Post-election violence in early 2008, coupled with the effects of the global financial crisis on remittance and exports, reduced GDP growth to 1.7 in 2008, but the economy rebounded in 2009-10.
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
5.738 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - exports
[time series]
41 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
16 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
6.79 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Exchange rates
[time series]
Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 79.217 (2010) 77.352 (2009) 68.358 (2008) 68.309 (2007) 72.101 (2006)
Exports
[time series]
$5.22 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $4.502 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement
Exports - partners
[time series]
Uganda 10.1%, Tanzania 9.8%, UK 8.8%, Netherlands 8.2%, US 5.8%, Egypt 4.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.3% (2010)
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$32.16 billion (2010 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$66.03 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $62.9 billion (2009 est.) $61.31 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 22% industry: 16% services: 62% (2010 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$1,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 2.6% (2009 est.) 1.6% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 37.8% (2005)
Imports
[time series]
$11.2 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $9.492 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics
Imports - partners
[time series]
China 13.6%, India 13.4%, UAE 9.7%, South Africa 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Japan 4.7% (2010)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Industries
[time series]
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 9.2% (2009 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
[time series]
19.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Labor force
[time series]
17.9 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 75% industry and services: 25% (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
[time series]
$14.46 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 68 $10.76 billion (31 December 2009) $10.92 billion (31 December 2008)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - consumption
[time series]
78,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - exports
[time series]
8,061 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - imports
[time series]
80,160 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Oil - production
[time series]
136 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Oil - proved reserves
[time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Population below poverty line
[time series]
50% (2000 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
47.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$4.321 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $3.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money
[time series]
$15.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $13.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
[time series]
$306.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $288.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
[time series]
$2.262 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $2.129 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
[time series]
$16.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $13.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money
[time series]
$7.148 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $5.833 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
21.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Unemployment rate
[time series]
40% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 40% (2001 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 580,367 sq km country comparison to the world: 49 land: 569,140 sq km water: 11,227 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Climate
[time series]
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Coastline
[time series]
536 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Total water withdrawal
(Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural))
[time series]
total: 1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%) per capita: 46 cu m/yr (2000)
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value
Irrigated land
[time series]
1,030 sq km (2008)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 3,477 km border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, South Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 8.01% permanent crops: 0.97% other: 91.02% (2005)
Location
[time series]
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Map references
[time series]
Africa
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards
[time series]
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons volcanism: Kenya experiences limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (elev. 1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano
Natural resources
[time series]
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Terrain
[time series]
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
30.2 cu km (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western; note - the constitution promulgated in August 2010 designates 47 yet-to-be-defined counties as first-order administrative units
Capital
[time series]
name: Nairobi geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
[time series]
27 August 2010; the new constitution abolishes the position of prime minister and establishes a bicameral legislature; many details have yet to be finalized and will require significant legislative action
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya local short form: Kenya former: British East Africa
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Scott GRATION embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606 Village Market, Nairobi 00621 mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000 FAX: [254] (20) 363-410
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Elkanah ODEMBO Absalom chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); Prime Minister Raila Amolo ODINGA (since 17 April 2008); note - according to the 2008 powersharing agreement the role of the prime minister was not well defined; constitutionally, the president remains chief of state and head of government, but the prime minister is charged with coordinating government business cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and chaired by the prime minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); vice president appointed by the president; note - the new constitution sets elections for August 2011 but this date is expected to slip election results: President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%, other 3.4%
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom
Government type
[time series]
republic
Independence
[time series]
12 December 1963 (from the UK)
International law organization participation
[time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
[time series]
Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court; note - the constitution promulgated in August 2010 specifies three superior courts consisting of a Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and High Court, and three subordinate courts consisting of Magistrate courts, Kadhis courts (sentences according to Muslim law), and Courts Martial
Legal system
[time series]
mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in High Court
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge usually referred to as Parliament (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 nominated members appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members); note - the constitution promulgated in August 2010 changes the legislature to a bicameral parliament consisting of a 290 member National Assembly and a 94 member Senate; parliament members will serve five year terms elections: last held on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ODM 99, PNU 46, ODM-K 16, KANU 14 other 35; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - ODM 6, PNU 3, ODM-K 2, KANU 1
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation) lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE note: adopted 1963; the anthem is based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 12 December (1963); Madaraka Day, 1 June; Mashujaa Day, 20 October
National symbol(s)
[time series]
lion
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Musikari KOMBO]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Reuben OYONDI]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-Kenya [Martha KARUA]; Orange Democratic Movement or ODM [Raila ODINGA]; Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]; Party of National Unity or PNU [Mwai KIBAKI]; Shirikisho Party of Kenya or SPK [Chirau Ali MWAKWERE]
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
Council of Islamic Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Idris MOHAMMED]; Kenya Human Rights Commission [L. Muthoni WANYEKI]; Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]; National Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY] other: labor unions
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over a constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement, which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular referendum in November 2005. KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from ODM candidate Raila ODINGA and unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people died. UN-sponsored talks in late February produced a powersharing accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister. Kenya in August 2010 adopted a new constitution that eliminates the role of prime minister after the next presidential election.
Military
Manpower available for military service
[time series]
males age 16-49: 9,768,140 females age 16-49: 9,466,257 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
[time series]
males age 16-49: 6,361,268 females age 16-49: 6,106,870 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
[time series]
male: 422,104 female: 416,927 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
Kenya Armed Services: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2011)
Military expenditures
[time series]
2.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 49
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy); applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate; women serve under the same terms and conditions as men; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2011)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 8,730,845/female 8,603,270) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 11,373,997/female 11,260,402) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 497,389/female 605,031) (2011 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
33.54 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
16.5% (2003) country comparison to the world: 50
Death rate
[time series]
8.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 83% of population rural: 52% of population total: 59% of population unimproved: urban: 17% of population rural: 48% of population total: 41% of population (2008)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 16
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
6.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
80,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
1.5 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Health expenditure
(Health expenditures)
[time series]
12.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 9
Hospital bed density
[time series]
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 125
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 52.29 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 44 male: 55.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Languages
[time series]
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 59.48 years country comparison to the world: 188 male: 58.91 years female: 60.07 years (2011 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.1% male: 90.6% female: 79.7% (2003 est.)
Major urban areas - population
(Major cities - population)
[time series]
NAIROBI (capital) 3.375 million; Mombassa 966,000 (2009)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria and Rift Valley fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Maternal mortality ratio
(Maternal mortality rate)
[time series]
530 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 26
Median age
[time series]
total: 18.9 years male: 18.8 years female: 19 years (2011 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan
Net migration rate
[time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2002) country comparison to the world: 159
Population
[time series]
41,070,934 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.462% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Religions
[time series]
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2% note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 27% of population rural: 32% of population total: 31% of population unimproved: urban: 73% of population rural: 68% of population total: 69% of population (2008)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2009)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
4.19 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 22% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to almost a quarter of a million refugees, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times
Illicit drugs
[time series]
widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees (country of origin): 173,702 (Somalia); 73,004 (Sudan); 16,428 (Ethiopia) IDPs: 250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
191 (2010) country comparison to the world: 33
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 17 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 174 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 107 under 914 m: 55 (2010)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 1 country comparison to the world: 156 by type: petroleum tanker 1 registered in other countries: 5 (Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Pipelines
[time series]
oil 4 km; refined products 928 km (2010)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
Kisumu, Mombasa
Railways
[time series]
total: 2,066 km country comparison to the world: 71 narrow gauge: 2,066 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)
Roadways
[time series]
total: 160,886 km country comparison to the world: 31 paved: 11,197 km unpaved: 149,689 km (2008)
Waterways
[time series]
(the only significant inland waterway in the country is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania) (2010)