Updated
Overview
Tanzania has 23% more people than Kenya: 70.55 million against 57.53 million (2025).
Kenya's economy is about 50% larger than Tanzania's, at $135.94B versus $90.14B.
Per person, Kenya is the wealthier of the two: $2,363 against $1,319 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Tanzania | Kenya | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $90.14B | Higher: $135.94B | 2025 | $78.78B / $124.50B |
| GDP per capita | $1,319 | Higher: $2,363 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.9% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 4.1% | 2025 | 3.1% / 4.5% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.6% | 5.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 34 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $212 | $137 | 2024 / 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $58 | Higher: $119 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 70.55 million | 57.53 million | 2025 | 69.15 million / 55.75 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.5 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.47 | 3.12 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.2 yrs | 63.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 32% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 31% | Higher: 35% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 945,087 km² | 580,367 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 74.6/km² | 99.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 20 Mt | 21 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 0.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $920.85M | $1.23B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 28,000 | 24,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Tanzania is growing faster: 5.9% annual GDP growth versus 4.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Tanzania and 4.1% in Kenya.
Average monthly earnings favour Tanzania: $212 against $137 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Tanzania is the younger society: median age 17.5 versus 20.0 years.
Life expectancy is 3.4 years longer in Tanzania (67.2 vs 63.8).
Geography
By land area, Tanzania is 63% larger than Kenya: 945,087 km² versus 580,367 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Kenya spends 34% more on defence than Tanzania: $1.23B versus $920.85M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Tanzania fields the larger armed forces: 28,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Tanzania bigger than Kenya?
- Tanzania is larger by land area. Tanzania covers 945,087 km² while Kenya covers 580,367 km², so Tanzania is 63% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Tanzania or Kenya?
- Tanzania has the larger population: 70.55 million versus 57.53 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Tanzania richer than Kenya?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kenya is richer: $2,363 against $1,319. Total GDP tells the same story: $90.14B for Tanzania versus $135.94B for Kenya.
- Who spends more on their military, Tanzania or Kenya?
- Kenya spends more: $1.23B versus $920.85M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).