Data shows Kenyan immigrants in the U.S. have skyrocketed in four years

A report by the American Community Survey provides a detailed snapshot of the Kenyan immigrant population across the United States, highlighting regional concentrations and trends.

According to the report, the U.S. has about 164,642 foreign-born nationals from Kenya. This figure excludes Kenyans who were born and live in the U.S. Between 2019 and 2023, the Kenyan-born population surged by 63,065 individuals.

State Distribution

Minnesota stands out as the state with the highest proportion of Kenyan-born residents, comprising 0.29% of the state's total 5.7 million population. 

This translates to about 16,000 Kenyans living in Minnesota, of whom 9,272 moved to the U.S. between 2019 and 2023. 

Following Minnesota, Delaware (0.18%) and Washington (0.17%) are notable states with relatively high concentrations of Kenyan-born individuals.

These regions are known for offering diverse employment opportunities and accessible pathways for immigrants to establish roots.

Meanwhile, larger states like Texas (0.08%) and Georgia (0.08%) have slightly lower proportions. 

However, their sheer size means significant absolute numbers of Kenyan immigrants reside there. Texas emerged as the state with the highest numeric increase, welcoming an additional 10,733 Kenyans.

Citizenship Status 

Among Kenyan immigrants, 58.3% are naturalised U.S. citizens. The remaining 41.7% are non-citizens, representing individuals on work permits, student visas, or those awaiting naturalization.

Educational Attainment

Kenyan immigrants in the U.S. boast impressive educational credentials. Nearly a quarter (22.9%) hold a graduate or professional degree, while 25.5% have a bachelor’s degree.

 A significant portion (32.3%) have completed some college or earned an associate degree, leaving only 14.5% with a high school diploma and 4.8% without a high school qualification.

 These statistics highlight Kenyans’ commitment to higher education as a pathway to success.

Employment 

The employment rate among Kenyan immigrants is notable, with 76.7% actively employed and only 3.9% unemployed. 

Another 18.5% are not in the labour force, including retirees, students, or caregivers. A small percentage (1%) serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Kenyan-born workers are predominantly employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations, which account for 49.1% of their workforce. 

Another 23.8% are in service jobs, 12.0% in sales and office roles, and 12.7% in production, transportation, and material moving. This distribution highlights their diverse skill sets and ability to thrive across sectors.