Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya
Kenya: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya is 0.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 18.5% on the previous year and down 68.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya peaked at 3.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 168th of 200 countries on this measure, 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 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
- 165 Brunei Darussalam 0.4% compare
- 166 China 0.4% compare
- 167 Bangladesh 0.4% compare
- 169 Iran, Islamic Republic of 0.3% compare
- 170 Kuwait 0.3% compare
- 171 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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1503 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 355.15 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 6.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2176 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 514.09 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 28.13 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kenya was 0.4% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Kenya ranks 168th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows 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 International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.