Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in Kenya
Kenya: Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) was 5.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Age dependency ratio, old in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
In 2025, age dependency ratio, old in Kenya stood at 5.0%.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, old in Kenya peaked at 6.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2010.
Kenya ranks 202nd of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.7% | — |
| 1961 | 6.4% | -4.5% |
| 1962 | 6.1% | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 5.9% | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 5.7% | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 5.5% | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 5.3% | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 5.2% | -2.4% |
| 1968 | 5.1% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 5.0% | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 4.7% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 4.6% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 4.6% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 4.5% | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 4.5% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 4.5% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 4.5% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4.4% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 5.0% | +1.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 5.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.0%, 71% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 5.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.7%, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.7% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, old in Kenya?
- Age dependency ratio, old in Kenya was 5.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 1960.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2010.
- How does Kenya rank for age dependency ratio, old?
- Kenya ranks 202nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, old rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.