The 18–25 age group dominates the ID-less population in Kenya, accounting for 80.5% of the total 2.3 million adults without an ID

  • 2.3 million Kenyan adults lack a national ID, a significant barrier to full participation in the formal economy.
  • The 18–25 age group dominates the ID-less population, accounting for 80.5% (around 1.9 million individuals).
  • Young adults face the highest exclusion risk, often missing out on opportunities that require verified identification.
  • Only 8.5% of the ID-less population falls within the ages 26–35, showing a sharp improvement in ID ownership as people age.
  • Older adults (46+ years) make up less than 10% of the ID-less group, indicating near-universal ID access among mature populations.

Young adults remain the most excluded group when it comes to owning national identification documents in Kenya. According to the 2024 FinAccess Household Survey, about 2.3 million Kenyan adults (18+) do not have an ID, and a striking 80.5% of them are between 18 and 25 years old. This means that nearly 1.9 million young Kenyans — those just entering adulthood, higher education, or the workforce — are left without one of the most fundamental tools for formal participation in the economy.

This reality highlights a structural inclusion challenge. While Kenya has made remarkable progress in digital finance and public services, the lack of ID access among youths limits their ability to benefit from such systems. Without an ID, individuals are unable to open bank accounts, register SIM cards, vote, or access formal jobs.

Source:

Central Bank of Kenya — 2024 FinAccess Household Survey

Period:

2024
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The two youngest age groups (18–25 & 26–35 years) collectively account for over half (52.9%) of all Kenyan adults who own an ID document
  • 25.8 million Kenyan adults now own a national ID.
  • Youths dominate ID ownership, with 18–35-year-olds making up 52.9% of all ID holders.
  • The 26–35 age group leads the way, accounting for 30.1% of total ID owners.
  • Young adults (18–25 years) form 22.8% of all ID holders
  • Older adults (46+ years) collectively make up less than 30% of all ID holders.
Nearly a quarter (24.4%) of young adults (18–25 years) lack an ID document, a rate 12 times higher than that of any other age group
  • Nearly 1 in 4 young adults (18–25 years) in Kenya lack an ID document.
  • This rate (24.4%) is 12 times higher than that of any other adult age group.
  • ID ownership rises sharply after age 25, reaching over 98% across all older categories.
  • Adults aged 36–45 years and above 55 years show the highest ID possession rate at 98.5%.
  • Closing the ID gap among the youth is essential to advancing financial inclusion, employment access, and digital service uptake in Kenya.
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