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Kenya economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya ranked 64/197 by economy size with a GDP of $120B and 154/197 by GDP per capita at $2,132. Kenya has $81B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 67.3%.

In 2024, Kenya made up 0.11% of the world's economy, compared to 0.06% in 1960.

Kenya GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $120,339,557,906 4.72%
2023 $107,500,884,685 5.72%
2022 $114,448,978,153 4.86%
2021 $109,703,658,905 7.59%
2020 $100,657,505,751 -0.27%
2019 $100,378,436,207 5.11%
2018 $92,202,979,985 5.65%
2017 $82,036,510,877 3.84%
2016 $74,815,144,164 4.21%
2015 $70,120,446,897 4.97%
2014 $68,285,796,514 5.02%
2013 $61,671,440,408 3.8%
2012 $56,396,704,672 4.57%
2011 $46,869,473,151 5.12%
2010 $45,405,615,064 8.06%
2009 $42,347,217,913 3.31%
2008 $35,895,153,328 0.23%
2007 $31,958,195,182 6.85%
2006 $25,825,512,284 6.47%
2005 $18,737,895,513 5.91%
2004 $16,095,337,094 5.1%
2003 $14,904,517,650 2.93%
2002 $13,147,736,899 0.55%
2001 $12,986,007,426 3.78%
2000 $12,705,350,098 0.6%
1999 $12,896,010,459 2.31%
1998 $14,093,998,844 3.29%
1997 $13,115,764,358 0.47%
1996 $12,045,865,396 4.15%
1995 $9,046,320,255 4.41%
1994 $7,148,148,564 2.63%
1993 $5,751,786,643 0.35%
1992 $8,209,120,763 -0.8%
1991 $8,151,488,783 1.44%
1990 $8,572,359,038 4.19%
1989 $8,283,114,514 4.69%
1988 $8,355,380,879 6.2%
1987 $7,970,820,369 5.94%
1986 $7,239,126,568 7.18%
1985 $6,135,034,214 4.3%
1984 $6,191,437,070 1.76%
1983 $5,979,198,314 1.31%
1982 $6,431,579,357 1.51%
1981 $6,854,491,706 3.77%
1980 $7,265,315,820 5.59%
1979 $6,234,391,113 7.62%
1978 $5,303,735,111 6.91%
1977 $4,494,378,764 9.45%
1976 $3,474,542,392 2.15%
1975 $3,259,345,083 0.88%
1974 $2,969,958,812 4.07%
1973 $2,509,001,324 5.9%
1972 $2,107,279,157 17.1%
1971 $1,778,391,289 22.2%
1970 $1,603,447,359 -4.66%
1969 $1,458,379,417 7.96%
1968 $1,353,295,459 7.98%
1967 $1,232,559,507 3.36%
1966 $1,164,519,674 14.7%
1965 $997,919,321 2.01%
1964 $998,759,334 4.96%
1963 $926,589,349 8.78%
1962 $868,111,401 9.46%
1961 $792,959,473 -7.77%
1960 $791,265,459 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

Kenya GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,132 $6,644
2023 $1,943 $6,317
2022 $2,110 $5,883
2021 $2,061 $5,339
2020 $1,928 $4,793
2019 $1,960 $4,687
2018 $1,836 $4,412
2017 $1,667 $4,177
2016 $1,554 $3,917
2015 $1,489 $3,678
2014 $1,483 $3,359
2013 $1,371 $3,106
2012 $1,285 $2,847
2011 $1,096 $2,750
2010 $1,092 $2,635
2009 $1,048 $2,480
2008 $916 $2,459
2007 $840 $2,481
2006 $700 $2,330
2005 $523 $2,189
2004 $464 $2,066
2003 $443 $1,975
2002 $403 $1,940
2001 $411 $1,961
2000 $415 $1,907
1999 $434 $1,910
1998 $488 $1,895
1997 $467 $1,865
1996 $441 $1,875
1995 $340 $1,818
1994 $276.4 $1,754
1993 $229 $1,723
1992 $337 $1,728
1991 $345 $1,756
1990 $374 $1,729
1989 $374 -
1988 $391 -
1987 $387 -
1986 $364 -
1985 $320 -
1984 $334 -
1983 $335 -
1982 $374 -
1981 $413 -
1980 $454 -
1979 $403 -
1978 $355 -
1977 $311 -
1976 $248.9 -
1975 $241.2 -
1974 $227.2 -
1973 $198.6 -
1972 $172.6 -
1971 $150.9 -
1970 $141 -
1969 $133.3 -
1968 $128.7 -
1967 $121.9 -
1966 $119.8 -
1965 $106.9 -
1964 $111.3 -
1963 $107.4 -
1962 $104.6 -
1961 $99.3 -
1960 $102.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

Kenya has a GDP per capita of $2,132, ranking 154/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $6,644, ranking 149/197, and a median annual after tax income of $3,229, ranking 137/197.

Kenya GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 64 144 137
2023 64 154 143
2022 64 151 146
2021 61 152 148
2020 62 150 148
2019 63 151 147
2018 65 152 147
2017 66 153 150
2016 68 153 151
2015 69 152 152
2014 71 155 155
2013 74 159 156
2012 75 158 155
2011 83 167 159
2010 80 162 161
2009 78 158 161
2008 81 164 161
2007 81 162 158
2006 80 162 158
2005 84 165 157
2004 86 165 157
2003 85 163 156
2002 85 162 156
2001 82 163 153
2000 83 162 152
1999 80 157 150
1998 80 151 147
1997 79 155 146
1996 79 153 141
1995 87 163 139
1994 87 161 135
1993 97 171 136
1992 83 155 135
1991 83 157 134
1990 82 153 131
1989 75 136 -
1988 73 140 -
1987 69 136 -
1986 67 135 -
1985 74 134 -
1984 73 129 -
1983 73 129 -
1982 74 128 -
1981 73 128 -
1980 68 125 -
1979 66 117 -
1978 65 118 -
1977 66 119 -
1976 69 119 -
1975 69 119 -
1974 69 118 -
1973 69 119 -
1972 66 118 -
1971 66 120 -
1970 67 120 -
1969 65 100 -
1968 65 99 -
1967 65 100 -
1966 63 99 -
1965 63 101 -
1964 64 96 -
1963 63 95 -
1962 62 94 -
1961 61 91 -
1960 60 85 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Kenya is ranked 64th out of 182 by GDP (up from 83rd), 144th by GDP per capita (up from 162nd), and 137th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 152nd).

Economic indicators

Kenya Rank
Gross domestic product
$120B
2024
64/197
GDP growth
4.72%
2023-2024
46/194
GDP per capita
$2,132
2024
154/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,644
2024
149/197
Government debt
$81B
2024
61/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.3%
2024
64/185
Government debt per person
$1,436
2024
133/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,229
2026
137/197
Listed domestic companies
59
2024
66/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$15B
2024
63/100
Income share by richest 10%
30.1%
2022
57/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2022
71/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.3%
2024
130/195
Consumer prices inflation
4.49%
2023-2024
66/195
Central bank interest rate
9.25%
2025
31/106
Unemployment rate
5.44%
2022
91/196
Population
58955623
26/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 23.3% 67.3% -5.77%
2023 22.7% 73.4% -5.71%
2022 23.2% 67.8% -6.06%
2021 24% 68.2% -7.2%
2020 24.8% 68% -8.13%
2019 24.4% 59.1% -7.42%
2018 24.5% 56.4% -6.94%
2017 25.2% 53.9% -7.4%
2016 25.4% 50.4% -7.47%
2015 23.8% 45.8% -6.68%
2014 23.4% 41.3% -5.75%
2013 23.2% 39.8% -5.25%
2012 22.1% 37.6% -5.29%
2011 20.1% 35.7% -3.64%
2010 21.5% 36.7% -3.67%
2009 20.3% 36% -3.12%
2008 18.9% 34.3% -1.95%
2007 18.1% 34.2% -0.95%
2006 17.3% 37.1% -0.43%
2005 16.2% 37.4% -0.19%
2004 15.4% 40.8% 0.5%
2003 16% 43.8% -0.73%
2002 15.7% 42% -1.29%
2001 14.9% 41.3% -0.53%
2000 14.1% 43.1% 0.38%
1999 13.7% 38.4% 0.84%
1998 15.3% 38.5% -0.03%
1997 15.6% 36% -0.91%
1996 15.2% 40.5% -0.49%
1995 17.3% 52.1% -0.23%
1994 18.8% 57% -4.14%
1993 18.9% 61.6% -8.57%
1992 17.6% 41.2% -8.28%
1991 16.4% 43% -6.56%
1990 17.2% 37.6% -3.28%
1989 16.3% 33.4% -2.39%
1988 15.9% 33.9% -1.97%
1987 15.5% 36.3% -2.27%
1986 15.3% 31.3% -2.98%
1985 15.6% 28.8% -3.05%
1984 14.9% 25.6% -2.55%
1983 14.6% 26.1% -2.17%
1982 16.2% 26.9% -3.07%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

This chart shows Kenya's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 43 years, Kenya recorded a fiscal deficit in 40 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 3.55% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $28B (23.3% of GDP), with a deficit of 5.77%.

The national debt reached $81B, ranking 61st out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 67.3%, ranking 64th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 4.49%
2023 7.67%
2022 7.66%
2021 6.11%
2020 5.41%
2019 5.24%
2018 4.69%
2017 8.01%
2016 6.3%
2015 6.58%
2014 6.88%
2013 5.72%
2012 9.38%
2011 14%
2010 3.96%
2009 9.23%
2008 26.2%
2007 9.76%
2006 14.5%
2005 10.3%
2004 11.6%
2003 9.82%
2002 1.96%
2001 5.74%
2000 9.98%
1999 5.74%
1998 6.72%
1997 11.4%
1996 8.86%
1995 1.55%
1994 28.8%
1993 46%
1992 27.3%
1991 20.1%
1990 17.8%
1989 13.8%
1988 12.3%
1987 8.64%
1986 2.53%
1985 13%
1984 10.3%
1983 11.4%
1982 20.7%
1981 11.6%
1980 13.9%
1979 7.98%
1978 16.9%
1977 14.8%
1976 11.4%
1975 19.1%
1974 17.8%
1973 9.28%
1972 5.83%
1971 3.78%
1970 2.19%
1969 -0.17%
1968 0.37%
1967 1.76%
1966 5.01%
1965 3.58%
1964 -0.1%
1963 0.7%
1962 3.12%
1961 2.46%
1960 1.24%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Kenya has had an average annual inflation rate of 8.61%. In 2024, inflation was 4.49%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Kenya Rank
Current account balance
-$1.55B
2024
134/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.29%
2024
94/190
Goods imports
$22.2B
2024
78/189
Goods exports
$12.5B
2024
93/189
Service imports
$5.64B
2024
88/189
Service exports
$8.04B
2024
74/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
156/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
157/193

Kenya top 10 trading partners

Kenya's biggest trading partner accounting for 16% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of -$4.11B: Kenya exports $197M worth of goods and services to China and imports $4.31B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Kenya.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $4.5B 16% $197M $4.31B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 UAE $3.27B 11.6% $754M $2.52B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
3 India $2.11B 7.51% $142M $1.97B Raw agricultural goods Chemicals & pharma
4 United States $1.83B 6.5% $663M $1.16B Textiles & consumer goods Machinery & equipment
5 Uganda $1.21B 4.31% $936M $275M Raw materials & minerals Animal & marine products
6 Malaysia $1.03B 3.65% $12.7M $1.01B Raw agricultural goods Processed food, beverages & tobacco
7 Tanzania $920M 3.28% $489M $432M Chemicals & pharma Raw agricultural goods
8 Pakistan $910M 3.24% $570M $340M Raw agricultural goods Raw agricultural goods
9 Netherlands $888M 3.16% $540M $348M Raw agricultural goods Raw materials & minerals
10 Japan $886M 3.16% $69.3M $817M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Kenya Rank
Raw agricultural goods $3.23B 41/193
Transport & tourism services $2.94B 90/188
Raw materials & minerals $1.58B 97/193
IT & IP services $1.03B 63/183
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $898M 84/192
Government & miscellaneous services $764M 21/180
Business & finance services $716M 82/188
Textiles & consumer goods $695M 76/193
Chemicals & pharma $654M 83/193
Metals $429M 93/192

Top 10 imports

Kenya Rank
Raw materials & minerals $5.61B 68/193
Machinery & equipment $4.81B 89/193
Chemicals & pharma $2.8B 77/193
Transport & tourism services $1.94B 101/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.77B 75/193
Textiles & consumer goods $1.65B 83/193
Business & finance services $1.55B 73/188
Raw agricultural goods $1.44B 71/193
Metals $1.26B 87/193
Wood & paper products $644M 76/193

Economic freedom indices

Kenya Rank
Economic freedom 55.5 128/197
Property rights 40.2 124/182
Government integrity 32.7 125/182
Judicial effectiveness 47 89/182
Tax burden 76.3 111/182
Government spending 84.1 51/180
Fiscal health 36.2 142/181
Business freedom 61.5 104/182
Labor freedom 56.5 87/182
Monetary freedom 75.1 80/180
Trade freedom 52 168/181
Investment freedom 55 93/181
Financial freedom 50 85/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 55.5 47 76.3 84.1 36.2
2025 54.8 48 77 83.7 25.1
2024 53.6 47.7 79.7 82.8 11.1
2023 52.5 30 79 81.7 10.8
2022 52.6 39 79 82.2 10.6
2021 54.9 41.5 78.7 80.2 12.6
2020 55.3 48.6 78.7 79.6 13.5
2019 55.1 46.9 79.5 77.8 13.8
2018 54.7 44 78.5 77.5 14.1
2017 53.5 42.7 78.5 77.9 14.4
2016 57.5 - 79.4 80.8 -
2015 55.6 - 78 72.1 -
2014 57.1 - 78 74.6 -
2013 55.9 - 77.5 73.5 -
2012 57.5 - 77.7 75.3 -
2011 57.4 - 77.6 72.8 -
2010 57.5 - 78.1 83.1 -
2009 58.7 - 78.6 81.5 -
2008 59.3 - 78.2 84.8 -
2007 59.6 - 78.9 82.1 -
2006 59.7 - 78.9 82.6 -
2005 57.9 - 78.9 83 -
2004 57.7 - 78.9 79.2 -
2003 58.6 - 78.1 85.2 -
2002 58.2 - 77.9 78.1 -
2001 57.6 - 77.3 76.5 -
2000 59.7 - 73.8 78.1 -
1999 58.2 - 73.9 76.1 -
1998 58.4 - 72.5 74.2 -
1997 60.1 - 69.1 71 -
1996 56.4 - 69.3 62.6 -
1995 54.5 - 68 63 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

Kenya is ranked 114/174 for economic freedom with a score of 55.5, compared to 76/162 and a score of 59.7 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Kenya Rank
Services, % of GDP
55.3%
2024
106/191
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
155/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
28/193
GNI, Atlas method
$118B
2024
62/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,540
2024
145/191
Total reserves including gold
$10.1B
2024
75/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$45.8M
2024
64/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$463M
2024
119/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$418M
2024
64/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.79%
2024
54/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
39.8%
2022
39/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.8%
2024
147/178

Compare Kenya vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.