Kenya vs Tanzania — Country Comparison
Kenya
TanzaniaKenya and Tanzania side by side: Tanzania is the larger country (947,303 km² vs 580,367 km², roughly 1.6× the size), while Tanzania has the bigger population (68.2 million vs 53.3 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Kenya | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Nairobi | Dodoma |
| Population | 53,330,978 | 68,153,004 |
| Area | 580,367 km² | 947,303 km² |
| Currency | Kenyan shilling | Tanzanian shilling |
| Languages | Swahili, English | Swahili, English |
| Dialling code | +254 | +255 |
| Main timezone | UTC+03:00 | UTC+03:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Left |
| Region | Eastern Africa | Eastern Africa |
| Emergency number | 999 (or 112) | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
Key differences: Kenya vs Tanzania
- Tanzania has a slightly larger population than Kenya.
- Tanzania is about 1.6 times larger by area.
- Kenya is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: KES and TZS.
- They share English, Swahili as an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 850 km apart.
- Kenya and Tanzania are in the same time zone (UTC+03:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See Kenya and Tanzania, or compare their population pages: Kenya · Tanzania.
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Kenya vs Tanzania — FAQ
Which is bigger, Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania is bigger by area: 947,303 km² vs 580,367 km², roughly 1.6× the size of Kenya.
Is Kenya bigger than Tanzania?
No — Tanzania is larger at 947,303 km² vs 580,367 km² for Kenya.
Which has more people, Kenya or Tanzania?
Tanzania has the larger population: 68,153,004 (68.2 million) vs 53,330,978 (53.3 million).
How does the size of Kenya compare to Tanzania?
Tanzania (947,303 km²) is about 1.6× larger than Kenya (580,367 km²).
Do Kenya and Tanzania use the same currency?
No — Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling and Tanzania uses the Tanzanian shilling.
Are Kenya and Tanzania on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Africa.
What is the time difference between Kenya and Tanzania?
Kenya and Tanzania are in the same time zone (UTC+03:00).
Do Kenya and Tanzania share an official language?
Yes — both share English, Swahili as an official language.
Do Kenya and Tanzania share a border?
Yes — Kenya and Tanzania share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Kenya or Tanzania?
Kenya is more densely populated at roughly 92 people per km², compared to 72 for Tanzania.
How far is Kenya from Tanzania?
The distance between the geographic centres of Kenya and Tanzania is roughly 850 km (530 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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