Table 1. Summary of finest census population data available for each census year and total de facto population for the study area (Kenyan coastal districts), 1979–2009.

Census year	Finest administrative unit level	Administrative level name	Number of units	Total population
1979	5	Sub-location	191	1,014,567
1989	5	Sub-location	212	1,444,296
1999	6	Enumeration area	2457	1,949,264
2009	5	Sub-location	279	2,679,478