External balance on goods and services in Kenya
Kenya: External balance on goods and services was -8.15 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-8.15 billion current US$
Change on year
down 7.5%
World rank
163rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
284.64 million current US$
in 1993
All-time low
-9.63 billion current US$
in 2021
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Kenya stood at -8.15 billion current US$.
That represents a change of down 7.5% on the previous year and down 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Kenya peaked at 284.64 million current US$ in 1993 and was at its lowest, -9.63 billion current US$, in 2021.
Kenya ranks 163rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -20.37 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 12.59 million current US$ | -161.8% |
| 1962 | 16.60 million current US$ | +31.9% |
| 1963 | 28.45 million current US$ | +71.3% |
| 1964 | 41.72 million current US$ | +46.7% |
| 1965 | 7.00 million current US$ | -83.2% |
| 1966 | 17.92 million current US$ | +156.0% |
| 1967 | -11.20 million current US$ | -162.5% |
| 1968 | 1.40 million current US$ | -112.5% |
| 1969 | 21.00 million current US$ | +1400.0% |
| 1970 | -13.44 million current US$ | -164.0% |
| 1971 | -116.48 million current US$ | +766.7% |
| 1972 | -45.08 million current US$ | -61.3% |
| 1973 | -31.99 million current US$ | -29.0% |
| 1974 | -214.48 million current US$ | +570.4% |
| 1975 | -152.79 million current US$ | -28.8% |
| 1976 | 24.14 million current US$ | -115.8% |
| 1977 | 151.27 million current US$ | +526.6% |
| 1978 | -517.25 million current US$ | -441.9% |
| 1979 | -365.20 million current US$ | -29.4% |
| 1980 | -463.74 million current US$ | +27.0% |
| 1981 | -230.34 million current US$ | -50.3% |
| 1982 | -315.20 million current US$ | +36.8% |
| 1983 | -135.30 million current US$ | -57.1% |
| 1984 | -328.40 million current US$ | +142.7% |
| 1985 | -297.40 million current US$ | -9.4% |
| 1986 | -292.80 million current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1987 | -405.90 million current US$ | +38.6% |
| 1988 | -437.20 million current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1989 | -587.30 million current US$ | +34.3% |
| 1990 | -483.11 million current US$ | -17.7% |
| 1991 | -123.45 million current US$ | -74.4% |
| 1992 | -33.67 million current US$ | -72.7% |
| 1993 | 284.64 million current US$ | -945.5% |
| 1994 | 201.18 million current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1995 | -593.65 million current US$ | -395.1% |
| 1996 | -832.48 million current US$ | +40.2% |
| 1997 | -1.14 billion current US$ | +36.8% |
| 1998 | -1.21 billion current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1999 | -841.70 million current US$ | -30.2% |
| 2000 | -1.29 billion current US$ | +53.0% |
| 2001 | -1.31 billion current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2002 | -706.92 million current US$ | -46.0% |
| 2003 | -888.11 million current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2004 | -1.01 billion current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2005 | -1.40 billion current US$ | +38.8% |
| 2006 | -2.39 billion current US$ | +71.2% |
| 2007 | -3.21 billion current US$ | +34.3% |
| 2008 | -4.39 billion current US$ | +36.6% |
| 2009 | -3.56 billion current US$ | -19.0% |
| 2010 | -4.61 billion current US$ | +29.6% |
| 2011 | -7.17 billion current US$ | +55.7% |
| 2012 | -6.71 billion current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2013 | -7.33 billion current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2014 | -9.03 billion current US$ | +23.3% |
| 2015 | -7.06 billion current US$ | -21.8% |
| 2016 | -6.26 billion current US$ | -11.4% |
| 2017 | -8.63 billion current US$ | +37.9% |
| 2018 | -8.60 billion current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2019 | -8.94 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2020 | -7.57 billion current US$ | -15.3% |
| 2021 | -9.63 billion current US$ | +27.3% |
| 2022 | -9.57 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2023 | -8.07 billion current US$ | -15.7% |
| 2024 | -7.58 billion current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2025 | -8.15 billion current US$ | +7.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's -8.15 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 4.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's -8.15 billion current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 14.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | +1400.0% | 1.40 million current US$ | 21.00 million current US$ |
| 1993 | +945.5% | -33.67 million current US$ | 284.64 million current US$ |
| 1971 | -766.7% | -13.44 million current US$ | -116.48 million current US$ |
| 1974 | -570.4% | -31.99 million current US$ | -214.48 million current US$ |
| 1977 | +526.6% | 24.14 million current US$ | 151.27 million current US$ |
| 1978 | -441.9% | 151.27 million current US$ | -517.25 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.51 million current US$ | -20.37 million current US$ | 41.72 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -128.13 million current US$ | -517.25 million current US$ | 151.27 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -349.36 million current US$ | -587.30 million current US$ | -135.30 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -476.75 million current US$ | -1.21 billion current US$ | 284.64 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.01 billion current US$ | -4.39 billion current US$ | -706.92 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -7.43 billion current US$ | -9.03 billion current US$ | -4.61 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -8.43 billion current US$ | -9.63 billion current US$ | -7.57 billion current US$ | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 417.66 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0035 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 7.4 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 463.44 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -8.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0038 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 8.21 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Kenya?
- External balance on goods and services in Kenya was -8.15 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 284.64 million current US$ in 1993.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.63 billion current US$ in 2021.
- How does Kenya rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Kenya ranks 163rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.