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Kenya vs Tanzania
Side-by-side comparison of Kenya and Tanzania from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Tanzania
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 62 years
In short
Tanzania scores 42.1 in the NationsTree Index (121st in the world) and Kenya scores 35.5 (144th), a gap of 6.6 points. Their trees are 11 m and 9.9 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Tanzania has 23% more people than Kenya. Tanzania has 60% more land area than Kenya. The economy of Kenya is 32% larger than that of Tanzania (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Kenya 57.5 million and Tanzania 70.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $7,016 in Kenya and $4,471 in Tanzania (2025, international dollars). People in Tanzania live on average 3.4 years longer (67.2 vs 63.8 years).
Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Kenya ranks higher in the world on 19 and Tanzania on 14. Kenya is clearly stronger in society & health and infrastructure & digital. Tanzania is clearly stronger in natural resources, environment & energy and economy.
As a nation, Kenya is the older of the two (statehood since 1963, 63 years), compared with Tanzania (since 1964). Over the last five years Tanzania improved faster (direction score 99 vs 46 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Kenya and Tanzania.
Kenya
5.4%
101st of 187
Tanzaniabetter
1.6%
12th of 187
Completed lower secondary, 25+Society & health
Kenyabetter
66.0%
88th of 153
Tanzania
15.1%
147th of 153
Government budget balanceEconomy
Kenya
-6.5%
169th of 192
Tanzaniabetter
-2.6%
95th of 192
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Kenyabetter
84.3%
123rd of 173
Tanzania
28.2%
169th of 173
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Tanzania overtook Kenya in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Tanzania overtook Kenya in life expectancy in 2009 and has stayed ahead since.
Kenya has been ahead of Tanzania in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Tanzania has been ahead of Kenya in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
KenyaTanzania All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Kenya | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 591,97047th/216 · 2024 | 945,50030th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 580,88045th/216 · 2024 | 884,00031st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 57.5 m26th/217 · 2025 | 70.5 m21st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.93%52nd/217 · 2025 | 2.86%16th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 97.2108th/216 · 2024 | 77.6128th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 32.2%191st/217 · 2025 | 36.9%180th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 36.3%46th/217 · 2025 | 42.3%13th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.0%197th/217 · 2025 | 3.0%196th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $135.94 bn62nd/210 · 2025 | $90.14 bn83rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $403.64 bn58th/199 · 2025 | $305.60 bn67th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $344.93 bn58th/199 · 2025 | $261.15 bn67th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,363171st/210 · 2025 | $1,319186th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $7,016154th/199 · 2025 | $4,471172nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,200162nd/201 · 2025 | $1,270179th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.6%58th/210 · 2025 | 5.9%36th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.1%126th/180 · 2025 | 3.3%97th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.4%101st/187 · 2025 | 1.6%12th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 71.3%137th/189 · 2025 | 49.8%84th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.5%169th/192 · 2025 | -2.6%95th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 23.2%25th/197 · 2025 | 22.9%30th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 16.3%155th/200 · 2025 | 29.8%53rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.1%132nd/192 · 2025 | 8.4%118th/192 · 2023 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.1%118th/200 · 2025 | 28.8%198th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $21.43 bn89th/182 · 2025 | $17.11 bn95th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $29.58 bn83rd/182 · 2025 | $18.02 bn96th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 15.8%157th/183 · 2025 | 19.0%148th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 21.8%163rd/183 · 2025 | 20.0%169th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 37.5%166th/183 · 2025 | 39.0%164th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.8%107th/170 · 2025 | 1.3%113th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 29.7%92nd/171 · 2025 | 11.4%128th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 50.8%28th/171 · 2025 | 31.0%46th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.3%82nd/171 · 2025 | 5.5%61st/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.2%115th/168 · 2024 | 3.0%118th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.8%112th/191 · 2025 | -2.6%107th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.8%150th/196 · 2025 | 1.9%105th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.2%111th/209 · 2021 | 6.7%62nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.22%51st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.05%34th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.01%86th/209 · 2021 | 4.03%26th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.22%47th/209 · 2021 | 2.39%30th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.5%91st/206 · 2024 | 15.5%74th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 382157th/183 · 2022 | 1,298117th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 2.0 m63rd/194 · 2019 | 1.5 m79th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.76 bn54th/175 · 2019 | $2.62 bn45th/175 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 15.4%42nd/168 · 2019 | 27.2%27th/168 · 2019 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 148,0001996 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 63.8197th/217 · 2024 | 67.2176th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 38.8154th/196 · 2024 | 37.0150th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.29135th/174 · 2023 | 0.13160th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.3105th/145 · 2019 | 0.8125th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 83%137th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 66.0%88th/153 · 2024 | 15.1%147th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 84.3%123rd/173 · 2023 | 28.2%169th/173 · 2021 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 27.4%2015 | 12.9%2014 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.0%201st/217 · 2025 | 5.6%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%144th/193 · 2023 | 3.1%177th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 82.2%2000 | 78.2%68th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.4%137th/150 · 2024 | 4.0%148th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.628143rd/193 · 2023 | 0.555165th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 38.578th/108 · 2022 | 40.52018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 45.5%102nd/108 · 2022 | 51.3%2018 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 77.0%174th/215 · 2024 | 52.4%199th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 31.3%125th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 35.8%102nd/144 · 2024 | 28.5%111th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 35.0%162nd/186 · 2024 | 31.2%168th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12670th/210 · 2024 | 12769th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.0149th/208 · 2024 | 0.2187th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.5584th/164 · 2018 | 2.812016 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,9172004 | 2,70145th/82 · 2017 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 5.1 m59th/161 · 2023 | 1.9 m83rd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3836th/203 · 2024 | 0.3132nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 67.7%30th/212 · 2021 | 78.3%20th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.3121st/200 · 2023 | 20.2118th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 6.6%175th/214 · 2024 | 49.6%61st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 563117th/149 · 2024 | 389132nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 50.5114th/205 · 2025 | 47.1131st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 30.8159th/207 · 2025 | 41.3119th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 50.8133rd/207 · 2025 | 49.2137th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 46.0181st/207 · 2025 | 57.3150th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 49.1123rd/205 · 2025 | 47.0136th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 51.6121st/205 · 2025 | 43.3142nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.998th/145 · 2022 | 3.787th/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.47 bn74th/156 · 2025 | $1.03 bn83rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.1%109th/156 · 2025 | 1.2%105th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.6%90th/154 · 2025 | 5.8%65th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 24,00096th/170 · 2020 | 28,00089th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.11%160th/168 · 2020 | 0.10%162nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 117.0 m46th/163 · 2025 | 4.0 m135th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m1993 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.81%47th/110 · 2024 | 0.51%2013 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 39650th/137 · 2024 | 12015 |
| Scientific articles articles | 2,07972nd/197 · 2023 | 1,45380th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania has the larger population: 70.5 m (2025) compared with 57.5 m for Kenya (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania is larger: 945,500 km² (2024) compared with 591,970 km² for Kenya (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Kenya or Tanzania?
Kenya has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $403.64 bn intl. (2025) compared with $305.60 bn intl. for Tanzania (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Kenya or Tanzania?
Kenya has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $7,016 intl. (2025) compared with $4,471 intl. for Tanzania (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania has the higher life expectancy at birth: 67.2 years (2024) compared with 63.8 years for Kenya (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Kenya or Tanzania?
Kenya spends more on the military: $1.47 bn (2025) compared with $1.03 bn for Tanzania (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania: 42.1 points (121st in the world); Kenya: 35.5 points (144th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Angola
Ethiopia
Ghana
Nigeria
South Africa
Côte d'IvoireSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Kenya vs Tanzania — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/kenya-vs-tanzania. Data as of 26 October 2026.