Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya
Kenya: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 463.44 million BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 463.44 million BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.
The figure is down 8.8% on the previous year and down 43.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya peaked at 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -5.40 million BoP, current US$, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 126th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13.80 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 7.40 million BoP, current US$ | -46.4% |
| 1972 | 6.30 million BoP, current US$ | -14.9% |
| 1973 | 17.26 million BoP, current US$ | +174.0% |
| 1974 | 23.42 million BoP, current US$ | +35.7% |
| 1975 | 17.16 million BoP, current US$ | -26.7% |
| 1976 | 46.37 million BoP, current US$ | +170.3% |
| 1977 | 56.55 million BoP, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 1978 | 34.41 million BoP, current US$ | -39.1% |
| 1979 | 84.01 million BoP, current US$ | +144.1% |
| 1980 | 78.97 million BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 1981 | 14.15 million BoP, current US$ | -82.1% |
| 1982 | 13.00 million BoP, current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1983 | 23.74 million BoP, current US$ | +82.6% |
| 1984 | 10.75 million BoP, current US$ | -54.7% |
| 1985 | 28.85 million BoP, current US$ | +168.2% |
| 1986 | 32.73 million BoP, current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1987 | 39.38 million BoP, current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1988 | 394,431 BoP, current US$ | -99.0% |
| 1989 | 62.19 million BoP, current US$ | +15667.0% |
| 1990 | 57.08 million BoP, current US$ | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 18.83 million BoP, current US$ | -67.0% |
| 1992 | 6.36 million BoP, current US$ | -66.2% |
| 1993 | 145.66 million BoP, current US$ | +2189.1% |
| 1994 | 7.43 million BoP, current US$ | -94.9% |
| 1995 | 42.29 million BoP, current US$ | +469.0% |
| 1996 | 108.67 million BoP, current US$ | +157.0% |
| 1997 | 62.10 million BoP, current US$ | -42.9% |
| 1998 | 26.55 million BoP, current US$ | -57.2% |
| 1999 | 51.95 million BoP, current US$ | +95.7% |
| 2000 | 110.91 million BoP, current US$ | +113.5% |
| 2001 | 5.30 million BoP, current US$ | -95.2% |
| 2002 | 27.62 million BoP, current US$ | +420.8% |
| 2003 | 81.74 million BoP, current US$ | +196.0% |
| 2004 | 46.06 million BoP, current US$ | -43.6% |
| 2005 | 21.21 million BoP, current US$ | -54.0% |
| 2006 | 50.67 million BoP, current US$ | +138.9% |
| 2007 | 729.04 million BoP, current US$ | +1338.7% |
| 2008 | 95.59 million BoP, current US$ | -86.9% |
| 2009 | 116.26 million BoP, current US$ | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 178.06 million BoP, current US$ | +53.2% |
| 2011 | 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +714.6% |
| 2012 | 1.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 1.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.9% |
| 2014 | 820.94 million BoP, current US$ | -26.6% |
| 2015 | 619.72 million BoP, current US$ | -24.5% |
| 2016 | 469.53 million BoP, current US$ | -24.2% |
| 2017 | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +186.7% |
| 2018 | 767.76 million BoP, current US$ | -43.0% |
| 2019 | 469.94 million BoP, current US$ | -38.8% |
| 2020 | -5.40 million BoP, current US$ | -101.1% |
| 2021 | 419.72 million BoP, current US$ | -7867.2% |
| 2022 | 791.58 million BoP, current US$ | +88.6% |
| 2023 | 507.96 million BoP, current US$ | -35.8% |
| 2024 | 463.44 million BoP, current US$ | -8.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 463.44 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 888.22 million BoP, current US$, 52% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 463.44 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 545.60 million BoP, current US$, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +15667.0% | 394,431 BoP, current US$ | 62.19 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2021 | +7867.2% | -5.40 million BoP, current US$ | 419.72 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1993 | +2189.1% | 6.36 million BoP, current US$ | 145.66 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2007 | +1338.7% | 50.67 million BoP, current US$ | 729.04 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2011 | +714.6% | 178.06 million BoP, current US$ | 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.67 million BoP, current US$ | 6.30 million BoP, current US$ | 84.01 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.42 million BoP, current US$ | 394,431 BoP, current US$ | 78.97 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 52.69 million BoP, current US$ | 6.36 million BoP, current US$ | 145.66 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 128.44 million BoP, current US$ | 5.30 million BoP, current US$ | 729.04 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 862.15 million BoP, current US$ | 178.06 million BoP, current US$ | 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 435.46 million BoP, current US$ | -5.40 million BoP, current US$ | 791.58 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 123 Liberia 471.54 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 124 Botswana 467.27 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 125 Zimbabwe 465.43 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 127 Moldova 459.51 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 128 Kuwait 413.09 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 129 Azerbaijan 374.19 million BoP, 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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya was 463.44 million BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.40 million BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Kenya ranks 126th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.