Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 580,367 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 569,140 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 11,227 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 50

Area - comparative:
five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Area comparison map: five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries:
total: 3,457 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (5): Ethiopia 867 km, Somalia 684 km, South Sudan 317 km, Tanzania 775 km, Uganda 814 km

Coastline:
536 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
More Climate Details

Terrain:
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation:
mean elevation: 762 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources:
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 48.1% arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 37.4%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 6.1%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 45.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
1,030 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast

Natural hazards:
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value