Kenya is an independent state in Eastern Africa, and a member of the United Nations. Treaties and official documents call it Republic of Kenya. Government sits in Nairobi.
The land area is 580,367 km², which ranks it 49th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Botswana and just ahead of France. For scale, it is a little larger than France.
It is home to roughly 56.4 million people, placing it 26th of 250 by population — between Italy above it and Myanmar below. Within Eastern Africa alone it is the 7th largest of 20 and the 3rd most populous.
Geography and neighbours of Kenya
Plotted on a globe it falls at 1.0° north, 38.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 111 km from the equator, in what geographers would call the equatorial belt.
It is one of the countries that the equator crosses. Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach Malaysia, Kiribati and Singapore — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
It borders 5 neighbours: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The largest of them by area is Ethiopia, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 281.6 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Kenya
Spread across 580,367 km², that works out at about 97 people per square kilometre, which makes it more crowded than the typical entry on this list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
Someone from Kenya is a Kenyan.
It recognises 2 languages: English and Swahili. English, the first listed, is shared with 90 other entries worldwide.
Against Africa as a whole it is the 7th most populous of 59 entries, and it accounts for 12% of everyone living in Eastern Africa.
Useful reference details
The currency is the Kenyan shilling (Sh, KES). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.
Its internet country code is .ke. Calls from overseas start with +254. Standard country codes: ke and KEN.
Nairobi is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
It holds a seat at the United Nations, one of 193 entries here that do. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Kenya shares borders with 5 countries:
Fun facts about Kenya
- Within Eastern Africa it is the 7th largest of 20.
- In land area it is a little larger than France.
- Its capital city is Nairobi.
- Population density works out at roughly 97 people per square kilometre.
- English is official here and in 90 other entries worldwide.
- The Kenyan shilling is used here and nowhere else on this list.
Kenya — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Kenya?
- The capital of Kenya is Nairobi.
- How big is Kenya?
- Kenya covers 580,367 km², ranking 49th of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than France.
- Which countries border Kenya?
- Kenya borders 5 countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Ethiopia is the largest of them by area.
- What currency does Kenya use?
- Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling, written Sh (currency code KES). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Where is Kenya located?
- Kenya is in Eastern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 1.0° north and 38.0° east, roughly 111 km from the equator in equatorial latitudes.
- What language is spoken in Kenya?
- Kenya lists 2 official languages: English and Swahili.
- What is the population of Kenya?
- Kenya has a population of about 56.4 million, which makes it the 26th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Italy sits just above it and Myanmar just below.
- Is Kenya a country?
- Yes. Kenya is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
