Capital of Kenya: Nairobi
The capital of Kenya is Nairobi. Kenya sits in Africa, has a population of 54,027,487, and uses the KES. Official languages include Swahili, English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Nairobi
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~54,027,487
- Area: 580,367 km²
- Population density: 93.1 people per km²
- Official languages: Swahili, English
- Currency: KES
- ISO code: KE
How big is Kenya?
By population, Kenya ranks 27th in the world, holding roughly 0.68% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 48th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Kenya has 93.1 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Kenya is the 7th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Kenya in population are Myanmar (54,179,306) and Colombia (51,874,024).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Botswana (581,730 km²) and Madagascar (587,041 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Swahili is spoken officially in 3 countries in this dataset, including Tanzania and Uganda.
Kenya uses the KES, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
Kenya in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Kenya belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Kenya and a page on the flag of Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Kenya?
The capital of Kenya is Nairobi.
What is the population of Kenya?
About 54,027,487, making it the 27th most populous country in the world.
How big is Kenya?
580,367 square kilometres, ranking 48th by land area, at a density of 93.1 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Kenya use?
The KES, which no other country uses.