MigrantoImmigrants in Kenya
927.1K foreign-born residents — the #63 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 85% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Somalia | 401953 |
| Uganda | 274655 |
| South Sudan | 114885 |
| DR Congo | 41186 |
| Tanzania | 32860 |
| Ethiopia | 30353 |
| Burundi | 14270 |
| Sudan | 9381 |
| Rwanda | 5208 |
| Eritrea | 1749 |
| Mozambique | 494 |
| South Africa | 91 |
| Namibia | 55 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 100%
927.1K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Kenya.
Kenya is a primary destination for emigrants from Uganda
Kenya attracts 48% of all emigrants from Uganda, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Somalia is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Somalia accounts for 43% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 30%.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 196730 |
| 1995 | 511762 |
| 2000 | 636140 |
| 2005 | 712418 |
| 2010 | 895728 |
| 2015 | 1047402 |
| 2020 | 980955 |
| 2024 | 927140 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Somalia | Uganda | South Sudan | DR Congo | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7875 | 83355 | 5801 | 394 | 66464 |
| 1995 | 172164 | 134005 | 53996 | 391 | 73119 |
| 2000 | 159197 | 261491 | 81156 | 672 | 51289 |
| 2005 | 208156 | 291776 | 62546 | 2749 | 42082 |
| 2010 | 392063 | 326978 | 53218 | 9133 | 39120 |
| 2015 | 488470 | 333789 | 95765 | 24738 | 39935 |
| 2020 | 425284 | 290597 | 121553 | 43577 | 34767 |
| 2024 | 401953 | 274655 | 114885 | 41186 | 32860 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Kenya as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Kenya
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Kenya?
Around 927.1K foreign-born residents live in Kenya, making it the #63-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Kenya come from?
Most immigrants in Kenya come from Somalia, Uganda and South Sudan — these three countries account for about 85% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Kenya are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 2% of the population of Kenya — that's 927.1K out of a total population of 56.4M.
How has immigration to Kenya changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Kenya has fallen from 1M to 927.1K people, a decline of about 11%.
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