China vs Kenya
China vs Kenya: Median age
Median age in 2023: 39.1 years in China and 19.5 years in Kenya, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 19.5 years, or 2 times that in Kenya.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- China has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, China ranked 60 and Kenya ranked 192 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts China at 60.7 years and Kenya at 37.5 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | China | Kenya | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39.1 | 19.5 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 38.5 | 19.3 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 38 | 19 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 37.5 | 18.8 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 37 | 18.5 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 36.6 | 18.3 | 29 |
| 2017 | 36.3 | 18.1 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 36 | 17.9 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 35.7 | 17.7 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 35.4 | 17.5 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 35.1 | 17.3 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 34.9 | 17.1 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 34.5 | 17 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 34.1 | 16.9 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 16.8 | 27 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 16.7 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 32.8 | 16.6 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 32.3 | 16.5 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 31.8 | 16.3 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 31.2 | 16.2 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 30.7 | 16 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 30.1 | 15.9 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 29.5 | 15.7 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 29 | 15.6 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 28.4 | 15.4 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 27.8 | 15.3 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 27.2 | 15.2 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 26.7 | 15 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 26.1 | 14.9 | 24 |
| 1994 | 25.6 | 14.8 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 25.1 | 14.7 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 24.6 | 14.5 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 24.1 | 14.4 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 23.7 | 14.3 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 23.4 | 14.2 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 23 | 14.1 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 22.6 | 14 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 22.2 | 14 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 21.7 | 13.9 | 22 |
| 1984 | 21.4 | 13.8 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 21.2 | 13.7 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 21.2 | 13.6 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.1 | 13.5 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 20.9 | 13.4 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.6 | 13.3 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20.2 | 13.3 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 19.8 | 13.2 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.4 | 13.2 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 19.1 | 13.2 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 18.8 | 13.2 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 18.5 | 13.2 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 18.3 | 13.2 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 18.1 | 13.3 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 18 | 13.3 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 18 | 13.4 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 18.1 | 13.5 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 18.1 | 13.6 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 18.2 | 13.7 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 18.5 | 13.9 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 18.9 | 14.1 | 21 |
| 1963 | 19.4 | 14.2 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 19.9 | 14.3 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 20 | 14.4 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 19.9 | 14.6 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 19.9 | 14.8 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 19.9 | 15.1 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 20.2 | 15.3 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 20.5 | 15.5 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 20.7 | 15.7 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 21 | 15.9 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 21.3 | 16 | 22 |
| 1952 | 21.6 | 16 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 22 | 16 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 22.3 | 16 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | China | Kenya | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39.639.6–39.6 | 19.819.7–19.8 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 40.140–40.2 | 2019.9–20.2 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 40.740.5–40.7 | 20.320.1–20.5 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 41.241.1–41.3 | 20.620.2–20.9 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 41.841.6–41.9 | 20.820.4–21.3 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 42.342.2–42.5 | 21.120.6–21.7 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 42.942.7–43.1 | 21.420.7–22 | 32 |
| 2031 | 43.543.3–43.7 | 21.720.9–22.4 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 44.143.8–44.3 | 21.921–22.8 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 44.744.4–44.9 | 22.221.2–23.3 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 45.345–45.5 | 22.521.3–23.7 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 45.845.5–46.1 | 22.821.4–24.1 | 33 |
| 2036 | 46.446.1–46.7 | 2321.5–24.5 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 4746.6–47.3 | 23.321.6–24.9 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 47.547.2–47.8 | 23.521.6–25.4 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 48.147.7–48.4 | 23.721.7–25.8 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 48.648.2–49 | 2421.8–26.2 | 34 |
| 2041 | 49.148.6–49.5 | 24.221.8–26.6 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 49.549–50 | 24.421.9–27 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 49.949.3–50.4 | 24.722–27.5 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 50.349.6–50.8 | 24.922–27.9 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 50.649.9–51.2 | 25.122.1–28.3 | 35 |
| 2046 | 5150.2–51.6 | 25.322.2–28.7 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 51.350.5–51.9 | 25.622.3–29.1 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 51.650.7–52.3 | 25.822.5–29.5 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 51.951–52.6 | 2622.7–29.8 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 52.151.2–52.9 | 26.322.8–30.2 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 52.451.4–53.2 | 26.523–30.6 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 52.751.6–53.5 | 26.823.2–31 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 52.951.8–53.8 | 2723.4–31.3 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 53.252.1–54.1 | 27.323.5–31.7 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 53.452.3–54.4 | 27.523.7–32.1 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 53.752.5–54.7 | 27.823.8–32.5 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 53.952.8–55 | 2824–32.9 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 54.253–55.2 | 28.324.2–33.2 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 54.453.2–55.5 | 28.524.3–33.6 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 54.753.4–55.8 | 28.824.5–33.9 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 54.953.6–56.1 | 29.124.7–34.2 | 38 |
| 2062 | 55.253.8–56.4 | 29.324.8–34.5 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 55.554.1–56.8 | 29.625–34.8 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 55.854.4–57.1 | 29.825.1–35.1 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 56.154.7–57.5 | 30.125.2–35.4 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 56.454.9–57.9 | 30.425.4–35.7 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 56.755.2–58.3 | 30.625.5–36.1 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 57.155.5–58.7 | 30.925.7–36.4 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 57.455.7–59.1 | 31.125.8–36.7 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 57.756–59.5 | 31.425.9–37 | 39 |
| 2071 | 58.156.3–60 | 31.626.1–37.3 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 58.556.6–60.4 | 31.926.2–37.6 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 58.956.9–60.9 | 32.126.3–37.9 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 59.257.2–61.3 | 32.426.4–38.1 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 59.657.5–61.8 | 32.626.5–38.4 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 6057.7–62.3 | 32.826.7–38.6 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 60.357.9–62.7 | 33.126.8–38.9 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 60.758.1–63.2 | 33.326.9–39.1 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 61.158.1–63.7 | 33.527.1–39.4 | 40 |
| 2080 | 61.457.9–64.2 | 33.727.2–39.6 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 61.757.6–64.7 | 33.927.4–39.8 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 6257.2–65.2 | 34.127.5–40 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 62.257.1–65.7 | 34.327.7–40.2 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 62.256.9–66.3 | 34.527.9–40.4 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 62.256.7–66.8 | 34.728.1–40.6 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 6256.6–67.3 | 34.928.2–40.8 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 61.956.4–67.8 | 35.128.4–41 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 61.756.3–68.2 | 35.328.6–41.1 | 41 |
| 2089 | 61.656.2–68.6 | 35.428.8–41.3 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 61.456.1–69 | 35.629–41.4 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 61.356.1–69.3 | 35.829.2–41.6 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 61.256–69.6 | 3629.3–41.7 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 61.156–69.7 | 36.229.5–41.9 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 6156–69.8 | 36.329.7–42.1 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 60.956–69.8 | 36.529.8–42.2 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 60.856.1–69.7 | 36.730–42.4 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 60.856.2–69.6 | 36.930.2–42.5 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 60.756.3–69.5 | 37.130.3–42.7 | 42 |
| 2099 | 60.756.4–69.3 | 37.330.5–42.9 | 42 |
| 2100 | 60.756.5–69.1 | 37.530.6–43 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs Kenya
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023Kenya: 63.7 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024Kenya: 3.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023Kenya: 29.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017Kenya: 3.51% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Kenya: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023Kenya: 55.3 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023Kenya: 1.97% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023Kenya: 3.21 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025Kenya: 32.2% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overChina: 14.3% in 2023Kenya: 2.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023Kenya: -0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025Kenya: 1.07% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsChina: $335B in 2025Kenya: $1.36B in 2025
- Military spending per personChina: $237 in 2025Kenya: $26 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025Kenya: 4.6% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020Kenya: 24,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022Kenya: 0.23% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020Kenya: 0.11% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025Kenya: 117 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsChina: 880 million TIV in 2025Kenya: 2 million TIV in 1993