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Economy of Kenya vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Kenya has a GDP of $136B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 62/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kenya has $94.3B in government debt (69.3% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Kenya vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Kenya
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kenya UAE
2025 $135,941,278,879 -
2024 $120,397,537,850 $552,324,919,096
2023 $107,500,884,685 $522,622,268,401
2022 $114,448,978,153 $511,403,404,642
2021 $109,703,658,905 $422,441,282,436
2020 $100,657,505,751 $357,161,776,271
2019 $100,378,436,207 $433,926,218,686
2018 $92,202,979,985 $440,560,003,161
2017 $82,036,510,877 $403,365,056,079
2016 $74,815,144,164 $381,717,208,621
2015 $70,120,446,897 $381,973,135,513
2014 $68,285,796,514 $424,935,834,104
2013 $61,671,440,408 $409,632,574,703
2012 $56,396,704,672 $392,793,559,051
2011 $46,869,473,151 $368,881,033,963
2010 $45,405,615,064 $307,736,348,527
2009 $42,347,217,913 $253,547,358,747
2008 $35,895,153,328 $315,474,615,741
2007 $31,958,195,182 $257,916,148,767
2006 $25,825,512,284 $222,116,532,963
2005 $18,737,895,513 $180,617,467,954
2004 $16,095,337,094 $147,824,249,958
2003 $14,904,517,650 $124,346,476,180
2002 $13,147,736,899 $109,816,091,079
2001 $12,986,007,426 $103,311,631,797
2000 $12,705,350,098 $104,337,463,730
1999 $12,896,010,459 $84,445,399,335
1998 $14,093,998,844 $75,674,384,205
1997 $13,115,764,358 $78,838,886,862
1996 $12,045,865,396 $73,571,217,377
1995 $9,046,320,255 $65,743,604,966
1994 $7,148,148,564 $59,305,111,228
1993 $5,751,786,643 $55,625,269,485
1992 $8,209,120,763 $54,239,188,746
1991 $8,151,488,783 $51,552,058,250
1990 $8,572,359,038 $50,701,374,187
1989 $8,283,114,514 $41,464,966,302
1988 $8,355,380,879 $36,275,613,877
1987 $7,970,820,369 $36,384,802,310
1986 $7,239,126,568 $33,943,568,481
1985 $6,135,034,214 $40,603,631,079
1984 $6,191,437,070 $41,807,931,453
1983 $5,979,198,314 $42,803,373,390
1982 $6,431,579,357 $46,622,715,281
1981 $6,854,491,706 $49,333,471,895
1980 $7,265,315,820 $43,599,134,193
1979 $6,234,391,113 $31,225,557,022
1978 $5,303,735,111 $23,775,718,541
1977 $4,494,378,764 $24,871,660,292
1976 $3,474,542,392 $19,213,212,475
1975 $3,259,345,083 $14,720,729,969
1974 $2,969,958,812 $11,651,505,689
1973 $2,509,001,324 $4,231,243,616
1972 $2,107,279,157 $1,415,086,929
1971 $1,778,391,289 $939,893,600
1970 $1,603,447,359 $685,986,701
1969 $1,458,379,417 -
1968 $1,353,295,459 -
1967 $1,232,559,507 -
1966 $1,164,519,674 -
1965 $997,919,321 -
1964 $998,759,334 -
1963 $926,589,349 -
1962 $868,111,401 -
1961 $792,959,473 -
1960 $791,265,459 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

GDP per capita in Kenya vs United Arab Emirates by year

Kenya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kenya UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $2,363 - - -
2024 $2,133 $6,644 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $1,943 $6,317 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $2,110 $5,883 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $2,061 $5,339 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $1,928 $4,793 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $1,960 $4,687 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $1,836 $4,412 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $1,667 $4,177 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $1,554 $3,917 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $1,489 $3,678 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $1,483 $3,359 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $1,371 $3,106 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $1,285 $2,847 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $1,096 $2,750 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $1,092 $2,635 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $1,048 $2,480 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $916 $2,459 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $840 $2,481 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $700 $2,330 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $523 $2,189 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $464 $2,066 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $443 $1,975 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $403 $1,940 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $411 $1,961 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $415 $1,907 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $434 $1,910 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $488 $1,895 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $467 $1,865 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $441 $1,875 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $340 $1,818 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $276.4 $1,754 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $229 $1,723 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $337 $1,728 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $345 $1,756 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $374 $1,729 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $374 - $23,167 -
1988 $391 - $21,570 -
1987 $387 - $23,113 -
1986 $364 - $23,132 -
1985 $320 - $29,468 -
1984 $334 - $32,012 -
1983 $335 - $34,650 -
1982 $374 - $39,972 -
1981 $413 - $44,855 -
1980 $454 - $42,925 -
1979 $403 - $34,238 -
1978 $355 - $29,379 -
1977 $311 - $35,020 -
1976 $248.9 - $31,197 -
1975 $241.2 - $27,117 -
1974 $227.2 - $23,823 -
1973 $198.6 - $9,696 -
1972 $172.6 - $3,675 -
1971 $150.9 - $2,805 -
1970 $141 - $2,394 -
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Kenya's GDP per capita is $2,363, ranking 154/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kenya ranks 149th at $6,644, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Kenya UAE
Gross domestic product
$136B
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
62/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
4.63%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,363
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
154/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,644
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
149/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$94.3B
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
69.3%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,638
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
126/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,538
2026
$40,096
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$22.8B
2025
$1.11T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
183,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
30.9%
2022
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2022
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
4.07%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
8.75%
2026
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.44%
2022
1.88%
2024
Population
59218766
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kenya
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kenya UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 24% 69.3% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 23.2% 67.3% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 22.6% 73.4% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 23.1% 67.8% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 24% 68.2% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 24.8% 68% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 24.4% 59.1% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 24.5% 56.4% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 25.2% 53.9% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 25.3% 50.4% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 23.8% 45.8% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 23.4% 41.3% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 23.2% 39.8% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 22.1% 37.6% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 20.1% 35.7% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 21.5% 36.7% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 20.3% 36% 35% 21.1%
2008 18.9% 34.3% 22% 8.95%
2007 18.1% 34.2% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 17.3% 37.1% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 16.2% 37.4% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 15.4% 40.8% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 16% 43.8% 20% 3.33%
2002 15.7% 42% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 14.9% 41.3% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 14.1% 43.1% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 13.7% 38.4% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 15.3% 38.5% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 15.6% 36% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 15.2% 40.5% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 17.3% 52.1% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 18.8% 57% 30.1% 5.58%
1993 18.9% 61.6% 31.5% 6.01%
1992 17.6% 41.2% 29.6% 5.31%
1991 16.4% 43% 36% 4.97%
1990 17.2% 37.6% - -
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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, Kenya's government spending was $32.6B, accounting for 24% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 69.3% in Kenya and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 59/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kenya

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kenya UAE
2025 -6.41% 5.15%
2024 -5.74% 6.41%
2023 -5.61% 5.82%
2022 -6.01% 9.8%
2021 -7.2% 3.96%
2020 -8.13% -2.42%
2019 -7.4% 2.5%
2018 -6.91% 3.65%
2017 -7.37% -0.16%
2016 -7.45% -2.95%
2015 -6.68% -6.35%
2014 -5.75% 1.74%
2013 -5.25% 7.99%
2012 -5.29% 8.59%
2011 -3.64% 5.05%
2010 -3.67% 0.52%
2009 -3.12% -6.13%
2008 -1.95% 17.6%
2007 -0.95% 17.1%
2006 -0.43% 20.2%
2005 -0.19% 16%
2004 0.5% 6.4%
2003 -0.73% 2.35%
2002 -1.29% -1.24%
2001 -0.53% 1.21%
2000 0.38% 10.7%
1999 0.84% 1.31%
1998 -0.03% 1%
1997 -0.91% 6.71%
1996 -0.49% 0.92%
1995 -0.23% 3.58%
1994 -4.14% -1.78%
1993 -8.57% -2.89%
1992 -8.28% 3.34%
1991 -6.56% 3.89%
1990 -3.28% -
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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, Kenya's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.91B, equivalent to 5.74% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Kenya recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Kenya posted an annual deficit equal to 3.79% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.25% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kenya

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kenya UAE
2025 4.07% 1.3%
2024 4.49% 1.7%
2023 7.67% 1.6%
2022 7.66% 4.8%
2021 6.11% -0.1%
2020 5.41% -2.1%
2019 5.24% -1.9%
2018 4.69% 3.1%
2017 8.01% 2%
2016 6.3% 1.6%
2015 6.58% 4.1%
2014 6.88% 2.3%
2013 5.72% 1.1%
2012 9.38% 0.7%
2011 14% 0.9%
2010 3.96% 0.9%
2009 9.23% -4.7%
2008 26.2% 12.3%
2007 9.76% 11.1%
2006 14.5% 9.3%
2005 10.3% 6.2%
2004 11.6% 5%
2003 9.82% 3.1%
2002 1.96% 2.9%
2001 5.74% 2.8%
2000 9.98% 1.3%
1999 5.74% 2.1%
1998 6.72% 2%
1997 11.4% 3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Kenya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.25%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 4.07% in Kenya and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Kenya
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $453M
Raw agricultural goods $170M
Animal & marine products $83.7M
Metals $43.4M
Wood & paper products $13.1M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $12.8M
Precious metals & jewellery $6.24M
Textiles & consumer goods $2.48M
Chemicals & pharma $2.25M
Machinery & equipment $356K
UAE
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $1.23B
Machinery & equipment $532M
Precious metals & jewellery $392M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $183M
Chemicals & pharma $171M
Metals $154M
Textiles & consumer goods $83.6M
Raw agricultural goods $36.8M
Wood & paper products $11.5M
Animal & marine products $9.91M

Balance of trade

Kenya UAE
Current account balance
-$1.55B
2024
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
130/190
2024
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.29%
2024
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$22.2B
2024
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$12.5B
2024
$467B
2024
Service imports
$5.64B
2024
$117B
2024
Service exports
$8.04B
2024
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
21.8%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.8%
2025
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Kenya UAE
Economic freedom 55.5 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 128/197 29/197
Property rights 40.2 62.9
Government integrity 32.7 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 47 34.4
Tax burden 76.3 99.9
Government spending 84.1 85.1
Fiscal health 36.2 97.6
Business freedom 61.5 84.5
Labor freedom 56.5 63.2
Monetary freedom 75.1 81.2
Trade freedom 52 78.6
Investment freedom 55 50
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kenya
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kenya UAE
2026 55.5 71.9
2025 54.8 71.6
2024 53.6 71.1
2023 52.5 70.9
2022 52.6 70.2
2021 54.9 76.9
2020 55.3 76.2
2019 55.1 77.6
2018 54.7 77.6
2017 53.5 76.9
2016 57.5 72.6
2015 55.6 72.4
2014 57.1 71.4
2013 55.9 71.1
2012 57.5 69.3
2011 57.4 67.8
2010 57.5 67.3
2009 58.7 64.7
2008 59.3 62.6
2007 59.6 62.6
2006 59.7 62.2
2005 57.9 65.2
2004 57.7 67.2
2003 58.6 73.4
2002 58.2 73.6
2001 57.6 74.9
2000 59.7 74.2
1999 58.2 71.5
1998 58.4 72.2
1997 60.1 71.9
1996 56.4 71.6
1995 54.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Kenya is 55.5, ranking 128/197, compared to 71.9 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Kenya UAE
Services, % of GDP
55.1%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.3%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
23.2%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$127B
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,910
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold
$12.4B
2025
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking
76/177
2025
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$45.8M
2024
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$463M
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$418M
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.82%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
39.8%
2022
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17%
2025
26.6%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.