MigrantoImmigrants in Kenya
927.1K foreigners live in Kenya — 2% of the country's population
Immigrants in Kenya by country
The 3 largest groups make up 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
100% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Kenya in numbers
48% of all emigrants from Uganda live in Kenya
No other country has more people born in Uganda.
Somalis are the largest group by a wide margin
43% of all immigrants were born in Somalia, while the next group accounts for just 30%.
Immigrant population in Kenya over time
Foreigners living in Kenya, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 196730 |
| 1995 | 511762 |
| 2000 | 636140 |
| 2005 | 712418 |
| 2010 | 895728 |
| 2015 | 1047402 |
| 2020 | 980955 |
| 2024 | 927140 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Kenya, by year
| Year | Somalis | Ugandans | South Sudanese | Congolese | Tanzanians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Kenya
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Kenya
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Kenya?
Around 927.1K immigrants live in Kenya — the world's #63 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Somalis live in Kenya?
Around 402K Somalis live in Kenya — about 43% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Kenya growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Kenya has fallen from 1M to 927.1K, about 11%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Kenya come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Kenya. Their children born in Kenya are not included.
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Living in Kenya
See the full country overview