Kenya has a population of around 56 million (2024) and is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa, with more than 40 distinct groups. Most are Bantu-speaking agricultural peoples from the central and western regions, but the country also has significant Nilotic and Cushitic communities.
The Kikuyu are the largest group, making up roughly 22% of the population, and dominate the fertile central highlands around Mt Kenya. Historically farmers and traders, they have a strong presence in business and politics. The Luhya (14%) of western Kenya and the Luo (13%) of the Lake Victoria region are also major groups. The Luo are traditionally fishermen and have produced some of Kenya's most prominent politicians and thinkers — Barack Obama's father was Luo.
The Kalenjin (about 12%) are highland pastoralists and farmers from the Rift Valley, best known internationally for producing a disproportionate number of the world's great long-distance runners. The Kamba of southeastern Kenya are historically known as traders and skilled craftspeople.
The Maasai are perhaps the most internationally recognized group, though they make up a small fraction of the population. Their seminomadic cattle-herding culture and distinctive red clothing have made them emblematic of Kenya in the global imagination. Many Maasai live as they always have, moving with their herds. Some have adapted to tourism as a livelihood; most simply live their lives with minimal interest in how outsiders perceive them.
Along the coast, the Swahili people represent centuries of mixing between Bantu Africans and Arab, Persian, and Indian traders. Swahili culture is Muslim in character, deeply influenced by the sea trade that shaped the coast for over a thousand years.
The two official languages are English and Kiswahili. English is used in government, higher education, and business. Kiswahili is the national lingua franca, spoken across ethnic lines everywhere. In cities, you will also encounter Sheng — a fast-moving street slang that blends Kiswahili, English, and various tribal languages, particularly among younger Nairobians.
Kenya is predominantly Christian (roughly 85%), with a significant Muslim minority (about 11%) concentrated on the coast and in the northeast. Traditional beliefs remain important in many communities alongside formal religion.