Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya

Kenya: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 64.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
64.9%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
46th
of 178 countries
All-time high
72.4%
in 2016
All-time low
57.0%
in 2005
Years of data
6
1999–2021

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya, 1999–2021

0204060801999201020211999: 65.12005: 572009: 69.12016: 72.42019: 64.42021: 64.9

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2021, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya stood at 64.9%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya peaked at 72.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 57.0%, in 2005.

Kenya ranks 46th of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in Kenya, 1999 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1999 65.1%
2005 57.0% -12.6%
2009 69.1% +21.4%
2016 72.4% +4.7%
2019 64.4% -11.0%
2021 64.9% +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 65.1% 65.1% 65.1% 1
2000s 63.0% 57.0% 69.1% 2
2010s 68.4% 64.4% 72.4% 2
2020s 64.9% 64.9% 64.9% 1

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 43 Malta 65.4% compare
  2. 44 Saudi Arabia 65.2% compare
  3. 45 Lao People's Democratic Republic 65.2% compare
  4. 47 Jamaica 64.4% compare
  5. 48 Australia 64.1% compare
  6. 49 Switzerland 64.1% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More work & labour data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya?
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya was 64.9% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2016.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 57.0% in 2005.
How does Kenya rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
Kenya ranks 46th out of 178 countries with data for 2021.
Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-to-population-ratio-15-total-percent-national-estimate/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
209 places, 4,960 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.