Number of people employed in Kenya
Kenya: Number of people employed was 14.47 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Number of people employed in Kenya, 1991–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people employed in Kenya is 14.47 million, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in Kenya peaked at 14.47 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 8.35 million, in 1991.
Kenya ranks 6th of 50 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.44 million | 8.35 million | 10.46 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.00 million | 10.71 million | 13.60 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.25 million | 14.03 million | 14.47 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 3 Democratic Republic of Congo 24.52 million compare
- 4 Egypt 24.39 million compare
- 5 Tanzania 20.11 million compare
- 7 South Africa 13.94 million compare
- 8 Uganda 13.32 million compare
- 9 Mozambique 10.63 million compare
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (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 number of people employed in Kenya?
- Number of people employed in Kenya was 14.47 million in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest number of people employed recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 14.47 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest number of people employed recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.35 million in 1991.
- How does Kenya rank for number of people employed?
- Kenya ranks 6th out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
- Is number of people employed rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Number of people employed. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total employment shows the total number employed ages 15 and over.