Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya
Kenya: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 23,365 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 23,365 for employment (ilo modelled estimates) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya peaked at 23,365 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8,562, in 1991.
That places Kenya 27th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8,562 | — |
| 1992 | 8,858 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 9,161 | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 9,484 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 9,819 | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 10,150 | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 10,478 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 10,820 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 11,192 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 11,636 | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 12,117 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 12,607 | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 13,111 | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 13,628 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 14,160 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 14,689 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 15,210 | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 15,720 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 16,252 | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 16,802 | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 17,374 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 17,948 | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 18,518 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 19,116 | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 19,729 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 20,368 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 20,240 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 20,061 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 19,829 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 20,074 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 20,760 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 21,418 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 22,090 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 22,713 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 23,365 | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,836 | 8,562 | 11,192 | 9 |
| 2000s | 13,913 | 11,636 | 16,252 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,998 | 16,802 | 20,368 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,737 | 20,074 | 23,365 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0073 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2281 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,185 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 51,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,727 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,468 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,196 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya was 23,365 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 23,365 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,562 in 1991.
- How does Kenya rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Kenya ranks 27th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.