Kenya vs Ethiopia
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Kenya and Ethiopia: the larger economy is Ethiopia ($120.3B vs $149.7B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Kenya ($2,132 vs $1,134). Life expectancy is higher in Ethiopia (63.8 vs 67.6 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Kenya vs Ethiopia: side by side
| Indicator | Kenya | Ethiopia | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $120.3B | $149.7B | Ethiopia |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $2,132 | $1,134 | Kenya |
| Population, total | 56,432,944 | 132,059,767 | Ethiopia |
| Population growth (annual %) | 2.0% | 2.6% | Ethiopia |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 4.7% | 7.6% | Ethiopia |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 4.5% | 21.0% | Kenya |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 5.4% | 3.3% | Ethiopia |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 63.8 | 67.6 | Ethiopia |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 35.0% | 21.9% | Kenya |
| Urban population (% of total) | 31.9% | 23.6% | Kenya |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 0.38 | 0.15 | Ethiopia |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Ethiopia
- GDP per capita (income): Kenya
- Life expectancy: Ethiopia
- Internet users: Kenya
- Lower inflation: Kenya
- Lower unemployment: Ethiopia
Frequently asked questions
Is Kenya or Ethiopia richer?
Kenya is richer on GDP per capita — Kenya at $2,132 versus $1,134 for Ethiopia (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Ethiopia ($120.3B vs $149.7B).
Which has a bigger economy, Kenya or Ethiopia?
Ethiopia has the larger economy: Kenya's GDP is $120.3B and Ethiopia's is $149.7B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Kenya or Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is more populous: Kenya has about 56.4 million people and Ethiopia about 132.1 million.
Where do people live longer, Kenya or Ethiopia?
Life expectancy is higher in Ethiopia: 63.8 years in Kenya versus 67.6 in Ethiopia (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20