Maasai
Lands
southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, on both sides of the border
Facts 3
Today
In 2025 Tanzania's Simanjiro district paused carbon project signings for 30 days to respond to community concerns, which IWGIA read as a sign that communities are starting to be heard.
As of 2025 Source: IWGIA (International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs), The Indigenous World 2026: Tanzania (opens in a new tab) Checked Suggest a correction to this fact
Population
Kenya's 2019 census counted 1,189,522 Maasai, up from 377,089 in 1989. The exact number is unknown because some Maasai choose not to take part.
As of 2019 Source: Minority Rights Group, Maasai in Kenya (opens in a new tab) Checked Suggest a correction to this fact
Language
Maasai people speak Maa, a Nilotic language related to Dinka, Kalenjin and Nuer.
Source: Minority Rights Group, Maasai in Kenya (opens in a new tab) Checked Suggest a correction to this fact
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