The Population of Malindi

The Population of Malindi

The Municipality’s 5 centres total population was recorded as 65690, 95362 and 144426 persons in the 1979, 1989 and 1999 population census respectively. Tables 1, 2 and 3 gives population analysis of 3 centres excluding Ganda and Goshi due to some technical errors detected in the 1999 population census data analysis.

Population Density and Distribution

Table 1 below gives the municipality’s population and households distribution, area and population density by locations according to the 1999 Population and Housing Census. The Municipality’s population form 51.3% of the District’s population. It also houses 58.1% of the total district’s households.

Table 1: Malindi Municipality population and households distribution by locations 1999

Centre	Population	Number of Households	Area in KM²	Density
Malindi	80 721	19 402	91.5	882
Ganda	12 738	2 013	36.4	350
Gede	21 128	3 269	67.9	311
Watamu	16 579	3 642	58.8	282
Goshi	13 260	2 000	92.3	144
Total	144 426	30 326	350.5	393.8

DISTRICT	281 552	52 164	7750.60	36.0

Source: District Statistics Office - Malindi 2001

High population densities were found in the urban centres of Malindi, Ganda and Gede. Malindi location had the highest density of 882 persons per Km² while Goshi location has the lowest density (see Table 1). This settlement pattern is explained by early settlement of Arabs at the Malindi and Gede and the fact that Malindi, Watamu and Gede are tourist resort centres.

However, it must be noted that the above shown census figures cannot accurately reflect Malindi population alone. This is because of the invasion of the town by foreign residents and tourists who stay up to three to four months a year and then return home. During this time the population of Malindi increases. Apart from the tourists there are many other Kenyans who come for trade and other purposes for the duration of the tourist season i.e. between June to September and January to March.

Ethnically and since its recorded origin in the thirteenth century, Malindi has had a cosmopolitan population. Over the centuries, this has included a variety of Africans, Arabs, Indians, Portuguese, British and lately Germans, Italians, and a smattering of other Europeans. The new Malindi Municipality is however a Giryama town. In 1989, nearly 85% of the population and virtually all-rural dwellers were Mjikenda, predominantly Giryama. The Giryama are a patriarchal society, until recently used to slash and burn agriculture.

Apart from Malindi town and Watamu, even Malindi Municipality is essentially rural. The urban and peri-urban areas cover no more than 10% of the area, although containing about 50% of the Municipal population. (MAP OF MALINDI)

Malindi town can be divided in different settlement areas:

1. The old town center (Shella, Barani, Bomani, Central and Majengo). The old town center is high density populated. 500 and more inhabitants per hectares live here.

2. The tourist areas east of the Casuarina Road and on both sides of Lamu Road.These areas are along the coast on both sides of the old town center.

3. he low density, high income residential areas west of Casuarina Road, around Casuarina Beach and west of Lamu Road. These areas are on the coast or near the coast. The extension of these areas varies in the south between 500 meters and 1 km and in the north up to 1,5 km.

4. The unplanned settlements situated mainly west of these areas but east of the airport (Muyeye Village, Maweni, Kisumu Ndogo, Mbuyu wa Kusema, Mtangani). There are certain areas that are due to historic development populated dense. The highest density (500 and more inhabitants per hectares) is found in Kisumu Ndogo. A medium density (100 – 250 inhabitants per hectares) is in the settlements Muyeye, Ngala, Maweni, Mbuyu Kusema and Mtangani. Today between these areas also are developed unplanned residential areas.

5. Industrial and commercial areas on both sides of the Mombasa road

Population projections

The municipality had a population of 118,428 persons in 1999, and is expected to grow to 128,806, 140093 and 152,369 persons in the year 2001, 2003 and 2005 respectively.

The municipality’s intercensal growth rate increased from 3.0 p.a. to 4.2 p.a. between 1989 and 1999. This increased growth rate is caused by rural urban immigration of people in search of job opportunities, the creation of the Malindi District in 1997 and the sub-sequent transfers of officers accompanied by their families and the current improved health services.

Generally, the population pyramid is bottom heavy as indicated in Table 2. The young children, age group 0 – 14 form 40% of the total population while the old people ages 60+ form 4% of the total population.

TABLE 2: Municipality population projections *

Age cohorts	1999	2001	2003	2005
0-4	18679	20315	22096	24032
5-9	15546	16908	18390	20001
10-14	13401	14576	15853	17242
15-19	12941	14075	15308	16650
20-24	13879	15095	16418	17856
25-29	12353	13435	14613	15893
30-34	8612	9367	10188	11080
35-39	6471	7039	7655	8326
40-44	4490	4883	5311	5776
45-49	3435	3736	4064	4420
50-54	2653	2886	3139	3414
55-59	1667	1813	1972	2145
60-64	1434	1560	1697	1845
65-69	1077	1172	1275	1386
70-74	824	896	975	1060
75-79	444	483	525	572
80+	521	566	616	670
Total	118428	128806	140093	152369

Source: District Statistics Office - Malindi 2001 * Excluding Ganda and Goshi Centres

Age and Sex Structure

Broadly, the municipality has a higher male population than female population as indicated in Table 3. The municipality male: female sex ratio is 108:100. The male population is higher in all age groups except for age groups 5 – 9, 20 – 24 and 35 – 39 where females are slightly more. It is noted that the population of females is slightly more in age groups because of in-migration of females from rural districts in pursuit of employment in town as well as female prostitution (Tourism Industry)

TABLE 3: Age and sex structure projections ^*

Age cohorts	1999		2001		2003		2005
Age cohorts	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
0-4	9461	9218	10290	10026	11191	10904	12172	11860
5-9	7753	7792	8433	8475	9172	9218	9976	10026
10-14	6736	6665	7326	7249	7968	7884	8666	8575
15-19	6570	6371	7146	6929	7772	7536	8453	8197
20-24	6832	7046	7431	7663	8082	8335	8791	9065
25-29	6757	5596	7349	6086	7993	6620	8694	7200
30-34	4927	3685	5359	4008	5829	4359	6339	4741
35-39	3574	2898	3887	3151	4228	3428	4598	3728
40-44	2468	2021	2684	2199	2920	2391 </

Centre

Population

Population projections

Age and Sex Structure

Age cohorts