Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya
Kenya: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 417.66 million BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya, 1975–2024
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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya is 417.66 million BoP, current US$, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 40.7% on the previous year and up 456.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya peaked at 803.33 million BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -3.22 million BoP, current US$, in 2018.
Kenya ranks 65th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 1.36 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 4.30 million BoP, current US$ | +215.9% |
| 1977 | 2.66 million BoP, current US$ | -38.2% |
| 1978 | 2.33 million BoP, current US$ | -12.4% |
| 1979 | 5.89 million BoP, current US$ | +152.8% |
| 1980 | 1.08 million BoP, current US$ | -81.7% |
| 1981 | 5.86 million BoP, current US$ | +443.3% |
| 1982 | 9.61 million BoP, current US$ | +64.1% |
| 1983 | 14.50 million BoP, current US$ | +50.8% |
| 1984 | 6.87 million BoP, current US$ | -52.6% |
| 1985 | 5.42 million BoP, current US$ | -21.1% |
| 1986 | 4.93 million BoP, current US$ | -9.0% |
| 1987 | 30.75 million BoP, current US$ | +523.7% |
| 1988 | 2.20 million BoP, current US$ | -92.9% |
| 1989 | 1.36 million BoP, current US$ | -38.1% |
| 1990 | -442,650 BoP, current US$ | -132.5% |
| 1991 | 200,000 BoP, current US$ | -145.2% |
| 1992 | -94,980 BoP, current US$ | -147.5% |
| 1993 | 2.79 million BoP, current US$ | -3035.6% |
| 1994 | 964,400 BoP, current US$ | -65.4% |
| 1995 | 11.36 million BoP, current US$ | +1077.4% |
| 1996 | 2.76 million BoP, current US$ | -75.7% |
| 1997 | 5.95 million BoP, current US$ | +115.8% |
| 1998 | 12.12 million BoP, current US$ | +103.7% |
| 1999 | 24.56 million BoP, current US$ | +102.6% |
| 2000 | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | -100.0% |
| 2001 | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.42 million BoP, current US$ | +74058.6% |
| 2003 | 2.08 million BoP, current US$ | -72.0% |
| 2004 | 4.42 million BoP, current US$ | +112.8% |
| 2005 | 9.69 million BoP, current US$ | +119.4% |
| 2006 | 23.96 million BoP, current US$ | +147.3% |
| 2007 | 36.03 million BoP, current US$ | +50.4% |
| 2008 | 43.77 million BoP, current US$ | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 45.99 million BoP, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 1.58 million BoP, current US$ | -96.6% |
| 2011 | 85.99 million BoP, current US$ | +5349.7% |
| 2012 | 238.37 million BoP, current US$ | +177.2% |
| 2013 | 198.61 million BoP, current US$ | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 75.12 million BoP, current US$ | -62.2% |
| 2015 | 241.99 million BoP, current US$ | +222.1% |
| 2016 | 116.91 million BoP, current US$ | -51.7% |
| 2017 | 109.91 million BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2018 | -3.22 million BoP, current US$ | -102.9% |
| 2019 | 37.23 million BoP, current US$ | -1257.1% |
| 2020 | 381.75 million BoP, current US$ | +925.5% |
| 2021 | 803.33 million BoP, current US$ | +110.4% |
| 2022 | 541.18 million BoP, current US$ | -32.6% |
| 2023 | 296.82 million BoP, current US$ | -45.2% |
| 2024 | 417.66 million BoP, current US$ | +40.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 417.66 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 52.88 million BoP, current US$, 7.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 417.66 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.86 million BoP, current US$, 17.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +74058.6% | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | 7.42 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2011 | +5349.7% | 1.58 million BoP, current US$ | 85.99 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1993 | +3035.6% | -94,980 BoP, current US$ | 2.79 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2019 | +1257.1% | -3.22 million BoP, current US$ | 37.23 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1995 | +1077.4% | 964,400 BoP, current US$ | 11.36 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2020 | +925.5% | 37.23 million BoP, current US$ | 381.75 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.31 million BoP, current US$ | 1.36 million BoP, current US$ | 5.89 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 8.26 million BoP, current US$ | 1.08 million BoP, current US$ | 30.75 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.02 million BoP, current US$ | -442,650 BoP, current US$ | 24.56 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.34 million BoP, current US$ | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | 45.99 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 110.25 million BoP, current US$ | -3.22 million BoP, current US$ | 241.99 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 488.15 million BoP, current US$ | 296.82 million BoP, current US$ | 803.33 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 62 Kazakhstan 468.52 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 63 Costa Rica 466.29 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 64 Iraq 438.70 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 66 Kosovo 415.06 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 66 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 415.06 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 68 North Macedonia 400.07 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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya was 417.66 million BoP, current US$ 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 outflows recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 803.33 million BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.22 million BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- How does Kenya rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Kenya ranks 65th out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 456.0%. 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 outflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an 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. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world. Data are in current U.S. dollars.