External debt stocks, total in Kenya
Kenya: External debt stocks, total was 42.89 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
42.89 billion DOD, current US$
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
33rd
of 122 countries
All-time high
42.91 billion DOD, current US$
in 2023
All-time low
477.54 million DOD, current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
External debt stocks, total in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks, total in Kenya stood at 42.89 billion DOD, current US$.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 153.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in Kenya peaked at 42.91 billion DOD, current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 477.54 million DOD, current US$, in 1970.
Kenya ranks 33rd of 122 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in Kenya, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 477.54 million DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 497.89 million DOD, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 581.16 million DOD, current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1973 | 844.72 million DOD, current US$ | +45.3% |
| 1974 | 1.15 billion DOD, current US$ | +36.5% |
| 1975 | 1.29 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 1.49 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1977 | 1.66 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1978 | 2.17 billion DOD, current US$ | +31.0% |
| 1979 | 2.72 billion DOD, current US$ | +25.2% |
| 1980 | 3.39 billion DOD, current US$ | +24.5% |
| 1981 | 3.23 billion DOD, current US$ | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 3.37 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 3.63 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 3.51 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 4.18 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.1% |
| 1986 | 4.60 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 5.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +25.6% |
| 1988 | 5.81 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 5.89 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 7.06 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1991 | 7.45 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 6.90 billion DOD, current US$ | -7.5% |
| 1993 | 7.11 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 7.12 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 7.31 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 6.81 billion DOD, current US$ | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 6.47 billion DOD, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 6.82 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 6.52 billion DOD, current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 6.15 billion DOD, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 5.50 billion DOD, current US$ | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 6.10 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 6.72 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 6.92 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 6.50 billion DOD, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 6.72 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 7.58 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2008 | 7.69 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 8.59 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 8.89 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 10.04 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 11.83 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 13.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2014 | 16.91 billion DOD, current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2015 | 19.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2016 | 21.06 billion DOD, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 26.95 billion DOD, current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2018 | 31.43 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 34.97 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2020 | 38.04 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 41.22 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2022 | 41.56 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 42.91 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 42.89 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 42.89 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.40 billion DOD, current US$, 3.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 42.89 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.69 billion DOD, current US$, 6.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.29 billion DOD, current US$ | 477.54 million DOD, current US$ | 2.72 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.34 billion DOD, current US$ | 3.23 billion DOD, current US$ | 5.89 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.96 billion DOD, current US$ | 6.47 billion DOD, current US$ | 7.45 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.84 billion DOD, current US$ | 5.50 billion DOD, current US$ | 8.59 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.56 billion DOD, current US$ | 8.89 billion DOD, current US$ | 34.97 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.32 billion DOD, current US$ | 38.04 billion DOD, current US$ | 42.91 billion DOD, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 30 Bulgaria 47.21 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 31 Senegal 47.15 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 32 Jordan 46.97 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 34 Cote d'Ivoire 40.56 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 35 Tunisia 40.46 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 36 Mongolia 38.02 billion DOD, current US$ compare
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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, total in Kenya?
- External debt stocks, total in Kenya was 42.89 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 42.91 billion DOD, current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 477.54 million DOD, current US$ in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for external debt stocks, total?
- Kenya ranks 33rd out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 153.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Data are in current U.S. dollars.