Country explorer: Kenya
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Kenya is a lush, lower-middle-income country in Africa with a medium-sized population. Its economy has grown stably in recent decades, and is based on agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
Kenya hosts the Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the seven wonders of the natural world.
Economy
Kenya has experienced significant economic growth, with notable improvements in GDP per capita, a complex change in the distribution of its population across various poverty thresholds, a fluctuating but generally increasing unemployment rate, and varying inflation rates, positioning it distinctively among its peers with its robust economic resilience and challenges.
Demographics
Kenya has experienced substantial demographic shifts characterized by a steady population growth, a significant decline in fertility rate, fluctuating net migration patterns, and an improvement in life expectancy, mirroring trends observed in several lower-middle-income countries but with unique variances in migration dynamics and fertility rate reduction pace.
Basic needs
Kenya has seen notable improvements in basic needs, such as increased access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed sanitation facilities, highlighting its progress in enhancing living standards compared to the slower advancements in similar metrics among its East African peers and lower-middle-income countries.
Human development
Kenya has showcased significant improvements in key human development indicators, including a steady rise in the Human Development Index, a decline in child mortality rates, an enhancement in literacy rates, and an increase in learning-adjusted years of schooling, positioning itself as a country making impressive strides in human development compared to its regional peers.
Environment & energy
Kenya has notably improved its renewable energy capacity, particularly in wind and solar, while slightly expanding its forest area, showcasing a proactive approach to environmental sustainability and renewable energy reliance that distinguishes it among its peers.
Technology & innovation
Kenya has showcased remarkable growth in technology and innovation, evidenced by a surge in internet usage, mobile phone subscriptions, and scientific publications, positioning it as a leader in tech innovation among African nations.
Culture & society
Kenya has navigated a complex tapestry of cultural and societal transformations, characterized by a moderately increasing immigrant population, significant strides in gender equality alongside fluctuating life satisfaction scores, within a context of gradually declining age dependency ratios, mirroring transitions seen in many of its lower-middle-income counterparts yet distinguished by its nuanced local dynamics and diverse demographic trends.
Governance
Kenya has marked significant improvements in governance indicators such as the rule of law, reduction in corruption perceptions, enhancement of political civil liberties, and press freedom, distinguishing itself as a progressive example of governance improvement relative to some of its regional peers.