Quick answerMombasa is a city in Kenya, with 1,208,333 people inside the city limits in 2019. The wider metropolitan area had about 1.6 million people in 2019. It is best known for the Fort Jesus, the Old Town and the Swahili culture. Its official languages are English and Swahili, and its currency is the Kenyan shilling.
Mombasa is Kenya's second-largest city, with about 1.2 million people in the 2019 census and about 1.6 million in the metropolitan area. It stands on the Indian Ocean coast and is home to Fort Jesus and the Old Town.
Key facts
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,208,333 (2019) |
| Population (metro) | 1,553,000 (2019) · Mombasa metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 50 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Nairobi |
| Language | English, Swahili |
| Currency | Kenyan shilling (KES, KSh) |
| Coordinates | 4.05° S, 39.667° E |
Overview
Mombasa is Kenya's second-largest city and its main port, on the Indian Ocean coast in the south-east of the country. The urban centre had 1,208,333 people in the 2019 census, with about 1,553,000 in the metropolitan area, and the city stands on an island joined to the mainland by bridges and ferries.
Mombasa was founded around 900 AD and is the oldest city in Kenya. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi took the role in 1907. Its best-known landmark is Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in the 1590s to guard the harbour, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Old Town keeps Swahili and Arab houses, carved doors and mosques.
Today Mombasa is the gateway for East Africa's trade: its Kilindini Harbour handles cargo for Kenya, Uganda and beyond, and the railway to Nairobi carries freight inland. Its beaches, from Nyali to Diani, and its Swahili culture draw visitors from around the world.
What Mombasa is known for
- Fort Jesus
- Old Town
- Swahili culture
- Beaches
- Mombasa tusks
- Kilindini Harbour
Landmarks
- Fort Jesus
- Old Town
- Mombasa Tusks
- Haller Park
- Mamba Village
- Nyali Beach
- Likoni Ferry
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mombasa?
About 1.2 million people live in Mombasa (1,208,333 in the 2019 census), with about 1.6 million in the metropolitan area, and the county as a whole had 1,311,860 people in the same census. That makes Mombasa Kenya's second-largest city, after Nairobi, and the main port on the country's Indian Ocean coast.
What is Mombasa famous for?
Mombasa is famous for Fort Jesus, the Portuguese fort built in the 1590s that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and for its Old Town with Swahili and Arab architecture. It is also known for its beaches, its harbour and the giant aluminium tusks on Moi Avenue.
Where is Mombasa located?
Mombasa is on the south-eastern coast of Kenya, on the Indian Ocean, about 480 kilometres south-east of Nairobi. It stands on an island joined to the mainland by bridges and ferries, at sea level. Its coordinates are 4.05° S, 39.67° E.
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Keep exploring
- Kenya — the country Mombasa is in
- Nairobi — another city in Kenya
- Nakuru — another city in Kenya
- Kisumu — another city in Kenya
- All cities in Kenya
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.