Country facts

Geography

Area: 581.313 km2

Location: East Africa

Capital: Nairobi

Bordering: Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Indian Ocean 

Coastline: 536 km

Climate: Varies from tropical along the coast and to arid in the interior

Natural resources: Limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife and hydropower

Geographical note: The Kenyan highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. Glaciers are found on Mount Kneya, Africa's second highest peak. The unique physiography in Kenya supports abundant and varied wildlife of great scientific and economic value.

Economy

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KSH)

GNI per capita: 595 US $

Annual growth: 4.4% (2012 estimate)

Inflation: 14% (2011 estimate)

Major industries: Small scale consumer goods, agricultural products, processing, and tourism

Danish Development Assistance: DKK 254 mill. (2011)

Government

Government type: Republic

President: Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta                

Deputy President: William Ruto

Foreign minister: Amina Mohamed

Finance minister: Henry K. Rotich

Major political parties: Parties at the last election included the Party of National Unity (PNU) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and the smaller Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K)

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Constitution: August 2010 

Health

Health indicators

Per capita total expenditure on health (PPP int. $) (2007): 72 $

Life expectancy (both sexes) (2013): 57,7 years

Fertility rate (children born/woman) (2012): 3,98

Maternal and child mortality

Maternal mortality rate (per 100.000 live births), (2013): 488

Children under the age of 5 years underweight (2003): 16,5 %

Under five mortality rate (probability of dying by age 5 per 1000 live births) (2009): 84

HIV/AIDS

HIV prevalence among adults (15-24) (2013): 2,9 %

People living with HIV/AIDS (2009): 1.5 million

Malaria

Malaria mortality rate per 100.000 population (2006): 74

Children under 5 years sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (2009): 46,7%  

People and Society

Population: 42,749 mill. (2013 estimate)

Ethnic groups (approx): Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 15%, Luo 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Other African 10%, Other (European, Asian, Arab) 1%

Population growth rate: 2,6 % pr. year

Life expectancy: 57,7 years

Languages: English, Kiswahili, various indigenous languages

Religion: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%