Photo: John Storr · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Kenya: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Kenya is placed 139th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 63.71 (2025); Labour Income Share 33.28 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
139th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Kenya on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
63.71
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Kenya: 63.71. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 82.89 Madagascar
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 66.19 · Somalia 27.43 · Tanzania 82.4 · Uganda 77.83
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.449
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Kenya: 5.449. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.922 Burundi
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 3.323 · Somalia 18.95 · Tanzania 1.572 · Uganda 2.746
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
63.83
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Kenya: 63.83. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 14.88 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 84.15 · Somalia 45.97 · Tanzania 83.65 · Uganda 74.39
02Over time
Which way Kenya is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
KenyaWorld median
Kenya fell from 70.42 in 2000 to 63.71 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Kenya World median 2025 63.71 57.720 2024 63.72 57.694 2023 63.81 58.158 2022 63.75 57.688 2021 63.62 56.066 2020 63.32 55.691 2019 64.40 57.871 2018 67.10 56.911 2017 69.75 56.738 2016 72.35 56.845 2015 72.24 56.788 2014 72.12 56.774 2013 72.01 56.229 2012 71.96 56.289 2011 71.83 56.297 2010 71.65 56.212 2009 71.52 56.255 2008 71.45 57.308 2007 71.41 56.933 2006 71.27 56.685 2005 71.11 56.129 2004 70.92 55.465 2003 70.78 55.630 2002 70.63 55.843 2001 70.54 56.018 2000 70.42 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
KenyaWorld median
Kenya fell from 52.8 in 2004 to 33.28 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Kenya World median 2025 33.28 46.230 2024 33.32 46.060 2023 33.91 45.900 2022 34.98 45.615 2021 35.91 45.433 2020 36.72 47.267 2019 37.24 46.277 2018 37.81 46.187 2017 38.15 46.467 2016 38.45 46.798 2015 40.95 46.876 2014 43.22 47.281 2013 43.33 46.887 2012 43.18 46.231 2011 43.52 45.679 2010 46.02 46.024 2009 44.53 47.071 2008 44.56 45.312 2007 49.63 45.246 2006 51.79 45.670 2005 51.87 46.265 2004 52.80 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
KenyaWorld median
Kenya rose from 2.884 in 2000 to 5.449 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Kenya World median 2025 5.449 5.08 2024 5.487 5.15 2023 5.409 5.21 2022 5.565 5.34 2021 5.693 6.04 2020 5.613 6.38 2019 5.014 5.36 2018 4.284 5.35 2017 3.542 5.59 2016 2.757 5.90 2015 2.762 6.41 2014 2.767 6.58 2013 2.762 6.71 2012 2.678 6.79 2011 2.699 6.90 2010 2.793 7.04 2009 2.816 6.67 2008 2.751 5.79 2007 2.642 6.00 2006 2.673 6.50 2005 2.739 7.09 2004 2.844 6.80 2003 2.869 6.95 2002 2.916 6.91 2001 2.876 6.96 2000 2.884 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
KenyaWorld median
Kenya rose from 59.43 in 2000 to 63.83 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Kenya World median 2025 63.8262 28.67 2024 63.9702 29.04 2023 64.2694 29.33 2022 64.5649 29.67 2021 64.8849 30.01 2020 63.0649 30.54 2019 60.4377 29.98 2018 60.4179 30.15 2017 60.4497 29.93 2016 60.4376 29.91 2015 60.4083 30.26 2014 60.4059 30.47 2013 60.3989 31.14 2012 60.3859 31.00 2011 60.3698 31.41 2010 60.4144 32.37 2009 60.4128 32.59 2008 60.3163 31.76 2007 60.2332 33.47 2006 60.2746 34.27 2005 60.1982 34.66 2004 60.1468 35.51 2003 60.0707 35.90 2002 59.8522 35.96 2001 59.6453 35.27 2000 59.4283 35.67
03In context
Kenya beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Kenya and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tanzaniacompare | =29th | 82.4 | 54.19 | 1.572 | 83.65 |
 Ugandacompare | =83rd | 77.83 | 37.57 | 2.746 | 74.39 |
 Ethiopiacompare | 116th | 66.19 | 38.52 | 3.323 | 84.15 |
| Kenya | 139th | 63.71 | 33.28 | 5.449 | 63.83 |
 Somalia | 180th | 27.43 | 37.55 | 18.95 | 45.97 |
 South Sudan | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Kenya in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Kenya is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Kenya does better than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3663.0453.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Kenya: 63.04 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 28th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3143▼ Worsened since 2015
Kenya: 14 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6667.3961.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Kenya: 67.39 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 41st of 182 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0736.0132.07No earlier reading
Kenya: 36.01 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Kenya does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1617.7519.16No earlier reading
Kenya: 17.75 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 100th of 179 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23017,44925,230No real change since 2010
Kenya: 17,449 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 88th of 151 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8315.2512.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Kenya: 15.25 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 73rd of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989098▼ Worsened since 2015
Kenya: 90 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8154.0641.81No earlier reading
Kenya: 54.06 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 55th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.689.716.68No earlier reading
Kenya: 9.7 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 106th of 139 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.6141.61No real change since 2015
Kenya: 4 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88533.064.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Kenya: 33.06 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.167.3222.16▲ Improved since 2015
Kenya: 7.32 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 142nd of 182 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7679.2836.76No earlier reading
Kenya: 79.28 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.912.445.9No earlier reading
Kenya: 12.4 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7421,6336,742▲ Improved since 2015
Kenya: 1,633 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 121st of 151 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38414,76347,384▲ Improved since 2015
Kenya: 14,763 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 135th of 168 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Kenya: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3845.7914.38No real change since 2015
Kenya: 45.79 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 27th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8464.831.84No real change since 2015
Kenya: 64.8 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 40th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8938.8938.89Moved since 2015
Kenya: 38.89 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 92nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95361.17657.95Moved since 2014
Kenya: 361.17 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.017.51815.01No earlier reading
Kenya: 7.518 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 101st of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5141.7359.51No real change since 2015
Kenya: 41.73 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 148th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8812.4818.88Moved since 2015
Kenya: 12.48 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 154th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Kenya
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2019), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2021), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2021), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2019), Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2019), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2019) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Kenya’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Kenya’s 11th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade44th of 1772/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability47th of 1864/4 keys
- Energy49th of 1653/3 keys
- Digital & Technology72nd of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation82nd of 1764/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 96th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties106th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 106th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security111th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge137th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour139th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing166th of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital167th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 165th of 1934/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 158th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality141st of 1593/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Kenya can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Tanzania=29th4/4 keysThis page
Kenya139th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Kenya and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Kenya on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Kenya rank on work & labour?
Kenya is placed 139th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Kenya?
63.71 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Kenya?
33.28 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Kenya compare with Ethiopia on work & labour?
Ethiopia is placed 116th of 182, and Kenya 139th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Ethiopia 66.19, Kenya 63.71; Labour Income Share: Ethiopia 38.52, Kenya 33.28; Unemployment Rate: Ethiopia 3.323, Kenya 5.449; Vulnerable Employment: Ethiopia 84.15, Kenya 63.83.
How have Kenya’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 70.42 in 2000 to 63.71 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 52.8 in 2004 to 33.28 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 2.884 in 2000 to 5.449 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 59.43 in 2000 to 63.83 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Kenya?
No current reading is published for Kenya on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Kenya’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Kenya (banner) — John Storr, CC0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Kenya: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/kenya/work