Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Kenya
Kenya: Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Kenya, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Kenya is 0.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 18.5% on the previous year and down 68.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Kenya peaked at 3.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 2020.
That places Kenya 174th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -95.3% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +414.4% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +161.1% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -47.8% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -60.4% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +73.3% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +1062.6% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -88.3% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | +42.8% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | +689.1% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -20.9% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | -25.9% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -33.7% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -26.5% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | -29.0% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +161.5% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -49.3% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -43.8% |
| 2020 | -0.0% | -101.1% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | -7226.7% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | +80.8% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -31.7% |
| 2024 | 0.4% | -18.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.1%, 19% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.5%, 16% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +7226.7% | -0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2007 | +1062.6% | 0.2% | 2.3% |
| 2011 | +689.1% | 0.4% | 3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 0.4% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | -0.0% | 0.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More economy & growth data for Kenya
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -17.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -59.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 2.42 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -61.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 1.77 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Kenya?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Kenya was 0.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 174th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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