Employment rate in Kenya
Kenya: Employment rate was 63.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in Kenya, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Kenya is 63.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Kenya peaked at 72.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 63.3%, in 2020.
That places Kenya 44th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.6% | 70.3% | 70.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 71.0% | 70.4% | 71.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.5% | 64.4% | 72.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.7% | 63.3% | 63.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 67.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 68.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Kenya?
- Employment rate in Kenya was 63.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.3% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for employment rate?
- Kenya ranks 44th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.