Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Value of imports from China as a share of GDP was 2.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Kenya, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 2.5% for value of imports from china as a share of gdp in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 37.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Kenya peaked at 4.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1962.
That places Kenya 144th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1962 | 0.0% | -8.9% |
| 1963 | 0.0% | +181.1% |
| 1964 | 0.2% | +518.5% |
| 1965 | 0.3% | +35.1% |
| 1966 | 0.5% | +71.4% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | -56.3% |
| 1968 | 0.3% | +63.9% |
| 1969 | 0.2% | -33.5% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | -4.2% |
| 1971 | 0.2% | +6.6% |
| 1972 | 0.2% | -28.5% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | +7.9% |
| 1974 | 0.4% | +127.2% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | -71.7% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | +88.0% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | +48.8% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -36.4% |
| 1979 | 0.2% | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | +29.4% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | -30.3% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -57.0% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +142.6% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | +23.0% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | +23.2% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +8.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -36.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | +22.0% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | +85.5% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | +207.6% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -68.2% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | +77.1% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -16.9% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +21.3% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | +128.9% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | +32.8% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +25.2% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | -16.6% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | +46.2% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +20.5% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +14.6% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -13.8% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -9.9% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -9.7% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | -16.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 0.6% | 2.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 3.2% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More economy & growth data for Kenya
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 15,507 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 12.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.1627 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 384.5 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 7.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 21.04 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 49,717 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.7 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Kenya?
- Value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Kenya was 2.5% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imports from china as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest value of imports from china as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1962.
- How does Kenya rank for value of imports from china as a share of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 144th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is value of imports from china as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imports from China as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of goods imported from China, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).