External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -6.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-6.0%
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
117th
of 191 countries
All-time high
4.9%
in 1993
All-time low
-15.3%
in 2011
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Kenya recorded -6.0% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
The figure is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kenya peaked at 4.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -15.3%, in 2011.
That places Kenya 117th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -2.6% | — |
| 1961 | 1.6% | -161.7% |
| 1962 | 1.9% | +20.5% |
| 1963 | 3.1% | +60.5% |
| 1964 | 4.2% | +36.1% |
| 1965 | 0.7% | -83.2% |
| 1966 | 1.5% | +119.4% |
| 1967 | -0.9% | -159.0% |
| 1968 | 0.1% | -111.4% |
| 1969 | 1.4% | +1291.9% |
| 1970 | -0.8% | -158.2% |
| 1971 | -6.5% | +681.4% |
| 1972 | -2.1% | -67.3% |
| 1973 | -1.3% | -40.4% |
| 1974 | -7.2% | +466.3% |
| 1975 | -4.7% | -35.1% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | -114.8% |
| 1977 | 3.4% | +384.4% |
| 1978 | -9.8% | -389.8% |
| 1979 | -5.9% | -39.9% |
| 1980 | -6.4% | +9.0% |
| 1981 | -3.4% | -47.4% |
| 1982 | -4.9% | +45.8% |
| 1983 | -2.3% | -53.8% |
| 1984 | -5.3% | +134.4% |
| 1985 | -4.8% | -8.6% |
| 1986 | -4.0% | -16.6% |
| 1987 | -5.1% | +25.9% |
| 1988 | -5.2% | +2.8% |
| 1989 | -7.1% | +35.5% |
| 1990 | -5.6% | -20.5% |
| 1991 | -1.5% | -73.1% |
| 1992 | -0.4% | -72.9% |
| 1993 | 4.9% | -1306.7% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | -43.1% |
| 1995 | -6.6% | -333.2% |
| 1996 | -6.9% | +5.3% |
| 1997 | -8.7% | +25.7% |
| 1998 | -8.6% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | -6.5% | -23.7% |
| 2000 | -10.1% | +55.3% |
| 2001 | -10.1% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | -5.4% | -46.7% |
| 2003 | -6.0% | +10.8% |
| 2004 | -6.3% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | -7.5% | +19.2% |
| 2006 | -9.3% | +24.2% |
| 2007 | -10.1% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | -12.2% | +21.6% |
| 2009 | -8.4% | -31.4% |
| 2010 | -10.1% | +20.8% |
| 2011 | -15.3% | +50.8% |
| 2012 | -11.9% | -22.3% |
| 2013 | -11.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | -13.2% | +11.3% |
| 2015 | -10.1% | -23.9% |
| 2016 | -8.4% | -16.9% |
| 2017 | -10.5% | +25.8% |
| 2018 | -9.3% | -11.3% |
| 2019 | -8.9% | -4.6% |
| 2020 | -7.5% | -15.6% |
| 2021 | -8.8% | +16.8% |
| 2022 | -8.4% | -4.8% |
| 2023 | -7.5% | -10.2% |
| 2024 | -6.3% | -16.1% |
| 2025 | -6.0% | -4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.1% | -2.6% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | -3.4% | -9.8% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | -4.9% | -7.1% | -2.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.7% | -8.7% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -8.5% | -12.2% | -5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -11.0% | -15.3% | -8.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.4% | -8.8% | -6.0% | 6 |
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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0912 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 215.39 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 13.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1121 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 264.91 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 8.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 14.5 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kenya?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Kenya was -6.0% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -15.3% in 2011.
- How does Kenya rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 117th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.