Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share 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 share of gdp in Kenya peaked at 3.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 2020.
That places Kenya 166th out of 198 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 share of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.9% | — |
| 1971 | 0.4% | -51.7% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | -28.2% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | +130.1% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | +14.6% |
| 1975 | 0.5% | -33.2% |
| 1976 | 1.3% | +153.5% |
| 1977 | 1.3% | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -48.4% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | +107.7% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | -19.3% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -81.0% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +96.4% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | -56.3% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +170.7% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -99.0% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +15804.6% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -11.3% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -65.3% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -66.4% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +3167.0% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -95.9% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | +349.6% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | +93.0% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -47.5% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -60.2% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | +113.9% |
| 2000 | 0.9% | +116.7% |
| 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% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 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
- 163 Brunei Darussalam 0.4% compare
- 164 China 0.4% compare
- 165 Bangladesh 0.4% compare
- 167 Iran, Islamic Republic of 0.3% compare
- 168 Kuwait 0.3% compare
- 169 Samoa 0.2% 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)
- 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 foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Kenya?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Kenya was 0.4% in 2024, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share 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 share of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 166th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share 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 IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.