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Economy of Kenya vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has a GDP of $120B compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 64/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kenya has $81B in government debt (67.3% of GDP), compared to $950B (173.5% of GDP) in Singapore.

Kenya vs Singapore GDP by year

Kenya
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kenya Singapore
2024 $120,339,557,906 $547,386,645,892
2023 $107,500,884,685 $505,439,514,078
2022 $114,448,978,153 $509,017,841,147
2021 $109,703,658,905 $436,591,382,250
2020 $100,657,505,751 $349,165,858,545
2019 $100,378,436,207 $376,161,998,830
2018 $92,202,979,985 $377,123,710,561
2017 $82,036,510,877 $343,673,334,902
2016 $74,815,144,164 $319,646,468,521
2015 $70,120,446,897 $307,998,545,269
2014 $68,285,796,514 $314,863,580,758
2013 $61,671,440,408 $307,576,360,585
2012 $56,396,704,672 $295,092,888,077
2011 $46,869,473,151 $279,356,499,090
2010 $45,405,615,064 $239,807,980,591
2009 $42,347,217,913 $194,150,283,772
2008 $35,895,153,328 $193,617,323,539
2007 $31,958,195,182 $180,941,701,358
2006 $25,825,512,284 $148,627,286,361
2005 $18,737,895,513 $127,807,848,728
2004 $16,095,337,094 $115,033,593,101
2003 $14,904,517,650 $97,646,401,096
2002 $13,147,736,899 $92,538,372,870
2001 $12,986,007,426 $89,793,790,670
2000 $12,705,350,098 $96,076,539,926
1999 $12,896,010,459 $86,286,849,755
1998 $14,093,998,844 $85,728,207,782
1997 $13,115,764,358 $100,123,787,215
1996 $12,045,865,396 $96,293,086,513
1995 $9,046,320,255 $87,812,540,788
1994 $7,148,148,564 $73,688,724,431
1993 $5,751,786,643 $60,603,815,716
1992 $8,209,120,763 $52,131,320,033
1991 $8,151,488,783 $45,466,164,978
1990 $8,572,359,038 $36,144,336,769
1989 $8,283,114,514 $30,465,364,739
1988 $8,355,380,879 $25,371,462,488
1987 $7,970,820,369 $20,919,215,578
1986 $7,239,126,568 $18,586,746,057
1985 $6,135,034,214 $19,156,532,746
1984 $6,191,437,070 $19,749,361,098
1983 $5,979,198,314 $17,784,112,150
1982 $6,431,579,357 $16,084,252,378
1981 $6,854,491,706 $14,175,228,844
1980 $7,265,315,820 $11,896,256,783
1979 $6,234,391,113 $9,296,921,724
1978 $5,303,735,111 $7,517,176,355
1977 $4,494,378,764 $6,618,585,074
1976 $3,474,542,392 $6,327,077,974
1975 $3,259,345,083 $5,633,673,930
1974 $2,969,958,812 $5,221,534,956
1973 $2,509,001,324 $3,696,213,333
1972 $2,107,279,157 $2,721,440,981
1971 $1,778,391,289 $2,263,785,444
1970 $1,603,447,359 $1,920,574,150
1969 $1,458,379,417 $1,659,893,768
1968 $1,353,295,459 $1,425,706,091
1967 $1,232,559,507 $1,238,035,816
1966 $1,164,519,674 $1,096,425,608
1965 $997,919,321 $974,644,096
1964 $998,759,334 $894,153,311
1963 $926,589,349 $917,608,012
1962 $868,111,401 $826,239,212
1961 $792,959,473 $764,629,788
1960 $791,265,459 $704,751,700

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

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/singapore | CC BY

GDP per capita in Kenya vs Singapore by year

Kenya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kenya Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,132 $6,644 $90,674 $150,689
2023 $1,943 $6,317 $85,412 $143,786
2022 $2,110 $5,883 $90,299 $143,095
2021 $2,061 $5,339 $80,056 $132,617
2020 $1,928 $4,793 $61,410 $101,518
2019 $1,960 $4,687 $65,952 $105,335
2018 $1,836 $4,412 $66,882 $103,963
2017 $1,667 $4,177 $61,236 $95,744
2016 $1,554 $3,917 $57,006 $89,902
2015 $1,489 $3,678 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $1,483 $3,359 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $1,371 $3,106 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $1,285 $2,847 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $1,096 $2,750 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $1,092 $2,635 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $1,048 $2,480 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $916 $2,459 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $840 $2,481 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $700 $2,330 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $523 $2,189 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $464 $2,066 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $443 $1,975 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $403 $1,940 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $411 $1,961 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $415 $1,907 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $434 $1,910 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $488 $1,895 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $467 $1,865 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $441 $1,875 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $340 $1,818 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $276.4 $1,754 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $229 $1,723 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $337 $1,728 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $345 $1,756 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $374 $1,729 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $374 - $10,395 -
1988 $391 - $8,914 -
1987 $387 - $7,539 -
1986 $364 - $6,800 -
1985 $320 - $7,002 -
1984 $334 - $7,228 -
1983 $335 - $6,633 -
1982 $374 - $6,078 -
1981 $413 - $5,597 -
1980 $454 - $4,928 -
1979 $403 - $3,901 -
1978 $355 - $3,194 -
1977 $311 - $2,846 -
1976 $248.9 - $2,759 -
1975 $241.2 - $2,490 -
1974 $227.2 - $2,342 -
1973 $198.6 - $1,685 -
1972 $172.6 - $1,264 -
1971 $150.9 - $1,071 -
1970 $141 - $926 -
1969 $133.3 - $813 -
1968 $128.7 - $709 -
1967 $121.9 - $626 -
1966 $119.8 - $567 -
1965 $106.9 - $517 -
1964 $111.3 - $486 -
1963 $107.4 - $511 -
1962 $104.6 - $472 -
1961 $99.3 - $449 -
1960 $102.8 - $428 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/singapore | CC BY

Kenya's GDP per capita is $2,132, ranking 154/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kenya ranks 149th at $6,644, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

Kenya Singapore
Gross domestic product
$120B
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
64/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP growth
4.72%
2023-2024
4.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,132
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
154/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,644
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
149/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$81B
2024
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.3%
2024
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,436
2024
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank
133/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,229
2026
$52,793
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$15B
2024
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
331,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
49
2025
Income share by richest 10%
30.1%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.3%
2024
14.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.49%
2023-2024
2.39%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
9.25%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.44%
2022
2.74%
2024
Population
58955623
6125852

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kenya
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kenya Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.3% 67.3% 14.6% 173.5%
2023 22.7% 73.4% 14.8% 172.8%
2022 23.2% 67.8% 15% 154.3%
2021 24% 68.2% 15.6% 141.7%
2020 24.8% 68% 24.1% 148.2%
2019 24.4% 59.1% 14% 127.9%
2018 24.5% 56.4% 13.9% 109.4%
2017 25.2% 53.9% 13.6% 107.6%
2016 25.4% 50.4% 15.3% 106.3%
2015 23.8% 45.8% 14.4% 102.2%
2014 23.4% 41.3% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 23.2% 39.8% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 22.1% 37.6% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 20.1% 35.7% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 21.5% 36.7% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 20.3% 36% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 18.9% 34.3% 14% 97.9%
2007 18.1% 34.2% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 17.3% 37.1% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 16.2% 37.4% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 15.4% 40.8% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 16% 43.8% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 15.7% 42% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 14.9% 41.3% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 14.1% 43.1% 16.1% 82.3%
1999 13.7% 38.4% 15.9% 85.3%
1998 15.3% 38.5% 18.1% 84.6%
1997 15.6% 36% 14.5% 70.8%
1996 15.2% 40.5% 18.1% 71.3%
1995 17.3% 52.1% 13.8% 69.8%
1994 18.8% 57% 11.7% 70.7%
1993 18.9% 61.6% 14.5% 71.2%
1992 17.6% 41.2% 14.5% 79%
1991 16.4% 43% 15.9% 76.4%
1990 17.2% 37.6% 15.1% 73.5%
1989 16.3% 33.4% - -
1988 15.9% 33.9% - -
1987 15.5% 36.3% - -
1986 15.3% 31.3% - -
1985 15.6% 28.8% - -
1984 14.9% 25.6% - -
1983 14.6% 26.1% - -
1982 16.2% 26.9% - -

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/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Kenya's government spending was $28B, accounting for 23.3% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $79.7B, or 14.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.3% in Kenya and 173.5% in Singapore, ranking 64/185 and 4/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kenya

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kenya Singapore
2024 -5.77% 4.44%
2023 -5.71% 3.47%
2022 -6.06% 1.21%
2021 -7.2% 1.13%
2020 -8.13% -6.73%
2019 -7.42% 3.77%
2018 -6.94% 3.68%
2017 -7.4% 5.24%
2016 -7.47% 3.25%
2015 -6.68% 2.86%
2014 -5.75% 4.6%
2013 -5.25% 5.96%
2012 -5.29% 7.34%
2011 -3.64% 7.96%
2010 -3.67% 5.68%
2009 -3.12% -0.09%
2008 -1.95% 3.59%
2007 -0.95% 7.12%
2006 -0.43% 2.16%
2005 -0.19% 2.56%
2004 0.5% 2.06%
2003 -0.73% 0.68%
2002 -1.29% 2.23%
2001 -0.53% 1.2%
2000 0.38% 4.59%
1999 0.84% 5.2%
1998 -0.03% 2.41%
1997 -0.91% 5.66%
1996 -0.49% 1.98%
1995 -0.23% 4.8%
1994 -4.14% 7.9%
1993 -8.57% 4.36%
1992 -8.28% 2.7%
1991 -6.56% 0.68%
1990 -3.28% 1.97%
1989 -2.39% -
1988 -1.97% -
1987 -2.27% -
1986 -2.98% -
1985 -3.05% -
1984 -2.55% -
1983 -2.17% -
1982 -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 (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Kenya's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.94B, equivalent to 5.77% of GDP. This compares to Singapore's surplus of $24.3B, or 4.44% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Kenya recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, Kenya posted an annual deficit equal to 3.78% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.36% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kenya

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kenya Singapore
2024 4.49% 2.39%
2023 7.67% 4.83%
2022 7.66% 6.13%
2021 6.11% 2.32%
2020 5.41% -0.17%
2019 5.24% 0.57%
2018 4.69% 0.44%
2017 8.01% 0.58%
2016 6.3% -0.53%
2015 6.58% -0.52%
2014 6.88% 1.03%
2013 5.72% 2.36%
2012 9.38% 4.58%
2011 14% 5.25%
2010 3.96% 2.83%
2009 9.23% 0.59%
2008 26.2% 6.64%
2007 9.76% 2.11%
2006 14.5% 0.97%
2005 10.3% 0.43%
2004 11.6% 1.66%
2003 9.82% 0.51%
2002 1.96% -0.39%
2001 5.74% 1%
2000 9.98% 1.36%
1999 5.74% 0.02%
1998 6.72% -0.27%
1997 11.4% 2%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/singapore | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Kenya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.39%, compared with 1.74% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 4.49% in Kenya and 2.39% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

Kenya
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $3.23M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.61M
Raw materials & minerals $995K
Animal & marine products $170K
Textiles & consumer goods $139K
Metals $89K
Chemicals & pharma $84K
Wood & paper products $34K
Machinery & equipment $19K
Precious metals & jewellery $12K
Singapore
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $46.4M
Chemicals & pharma $24.4M
Textiles & consumer goods $14.3M
Miscellaneous $9.24M
Wood & paper products $6.92M
Raw materials & minerals $4.22M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.68M
Metals $1.38M
Raw agricultural goods $207K
Animal & marine products $76K

Balance of trade

Kenya Singapore
Current account balance
-$1.55B
2024
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
134/190
2024
8/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.29%
2024
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$22.2B
2024
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$12.5B
2024
$583B
2024
Service imports
$5.64B
2024
$351B
2024
Service exports
$8.04B
2024
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
178.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Kenya Singapore
Economic freedom 55.5 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 128/197 1/197
Property rights 40.2 89.2
Government integrity 32.7 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 47 58.3
Tax burden 76.3 89.5
Government spending 84.1 93.4
Fiscal health 36.2 80
Business freedom 61.5 90.6
Labor freedom 56.5 77
Monetary freedom 75.1 83.5
Trade freedom 52 95
Investment freedom 55 90
Financial freedom 50 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kenya
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kenya Singapore
2026 55.5 84.4
2025 54.8 84.1
2024 53.6 83.5
2023 52.5 83.9
2022 52.6 84.4
2021 54.9 89.7
2020 55.3 89.4
2019 55.1 89.4
2018 54.7 88.8
2017 53.5 88.6
2016 57.5 87.8
2015 55.6 89.4
2014 57.1 89.4
2013 55.9 88
2012 57.5 87.5
2011 57.4 87.2
2010 57.5 86.1
2009 58.7 87.1
2008 59.3 87.3
2007 59.6 87.1
2006 59.7 88
2005 57.9 88.6
2004 57.7 88.9
2003 58.6 88.2
2002 58.2 87.4
2001 57.6 87.8
2000 59.7 87.7
1999 58.2 86.9
1998 58.4 87
1997 60.1 87.3
1996 56.4 86.5
1995 54.5 86.3

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

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/singapore | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Kenya is 55.5, ranking 128/197, compared to 84.4 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Kenya Singapore
Services, % of GDP
55.3%
2024
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$118B
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,540
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$10.1B
2024
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking
75/177
2024
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$45.8M
2024
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$463M
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$418M
2024
$55.3B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.79%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
39.8%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.8%
2024
22.2%
2024

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/singapore | 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 (2023–2024, 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.