Net migration in Kenya
Kenya: Net migration was -27,330 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Kenya is -27,330, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 38.2% on the previous year and up 71.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Kenya peaked at 55,052 in 2001 and was at its lowest, -115,436, in 2018.
That places Kenya 182nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,134 | — |
| 1961 | 4,296 | +101.3% |
| 1962 | 4,521 | +5.2% |
| 1963 | 4,246 | -6.1% |
| 1964 | 4,788 | +12.8% |
| 1965 | 8,524 | +78.0% |
| 1966 | 1,616 | -81.0% |
| 1967 | 5,060 | +213.1% |
| 1968 | 1,611 | -68.2% |
| 1969 | 369 | -77.1% |
| 1970 | -13,064 | -3640.4% |
| 1971 | -49,671 | +280.2% |
| 1972 | -48,466 | -2.4% |
| 1973 | -52,102 | +7.5% |
| 1974 | -62,973 | +20.9% |
| 1975 | -71,421 | +13.4% |
| 1976 | -90,990 | +27.4% |
| 1977 | -57,493 | -36.8% |
| 1978 | -60,718 | +5.6% |
| 1979 | -56,280 | -7.3% |
| 1980 | -39,920 | -29.1% |
| 1981 | -52,761 | +32.2% |
| 1982 | -43,382 | -17.8% |
| 1983 | -23,905 | -44.9% |
| 1984 | -33,253 | +39.1% |
| 1985 | -35,400 | +6.5% |
| 1986 | -53,183 | +50.2% |
| 1987 | -48,633 | -8.6% |
| 1988 | -31,894 | -34.4% |
| 1989 | -24,949 | -21.8% |
| 1990 | -11,338 | -54.6% |
| 1991 | -60,087 | +430.0% |
| 1992 | -43,085 | -28.3% |
| 1993 | -61,054 | +41.7% |
| 1994 | -40,367 | -33.9% |
| 1995 | -75,506 | +87.0% |
| 1996 | -79,276 | +5.0% |
| 1997 | -80,443 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | -70,023 | -13.0% |
| 1999 | -13,257 | -81.1% |
| 2000 | 5,407 | -140.8% |
| 2001 | 55,052 | +918.2% |
| 2002 | 10,431 | -81.1% |
| 2003 | 24,175 | +131.8% |
| 2004 | 31,525 | +30.4% |
| 2005 | 5,501 | -82.6% |
| 2006 | 15,767 | +186.6% |
| 2007 | -11,495 | -172.9% |
| 2008 | 29,612 | -357.6% |
| 2009 | 7,096 | -76.0% |
| 2010 | -21,069 | -396.9% |
| 2011 | -44,795 | +112.6% |
| 2012 | -42,928 | -4.2% |
| 2013 | -57,634 | +34.3% |
| 2014 | -72,415 | +25.6% |
| 2015 | -95,977 | +32.5% |
| 2016 | -29,728 | -69.0% |
| 2017 | -68,702 | +131.1% |
| 2018 | -115,436 | +68.0% |
| 2019 | -61,949 | -46.3% |
| 2020 | -17,111 | -72.4% |
| 2021 | -52,552 | +207.1% |
| 2022 | -10,003 | -81.0% |
| 2023 | -10,003 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -19,781 | +97.8% |
| 2025 | -27,330 | +38.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's -27,330 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 2.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's -27,330 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 4.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -3640.4% | 369 | -13,064 |
| 2001 | +918.2% | 5,407 | 55,052 |
| 1991 | -430.0% | -11,338 | -60,087 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3,716 | 369 | 8,524 | 10 |
| 1970s | -56,318 | -90,990 | -13,064 | 10 |
| 1980s | -38,728 | -53,183 | -23,905 | 10 |
| 1990s | -53,444 | -80,443 | -11,338 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17,307 | -11,495 | 55,052 | 10 |
| 2010s | -61,063 | -115,436 | -21,069 | 10 |
| 2020s | -22,797 | -52,552 | -10,003 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More financial sector data for Kenya
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.3189 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.2328 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.3189 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Kenya?
- Net migration in Kenya was -27,330 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 55,052 in 2001.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -115,436 in 2018.
- How does Kenya rank for net migration?
- Kenya ranks 182nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.