Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Kenya
Kenya: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was 430.24 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya, 1975–2025
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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya is 430.24 million BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 77.8% 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$, in 2018.
Kenya ranks 62nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) 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 | -442,651 BoP, current US$ | -132.5% |
| 1991 | 200,000 BoP, current US$ | -145.2% |
| 1992 | -94,982 BoP, current US$ | -147.5% |
| 1993 | 2.79 million BoP, current US$ | -3035.5% |
| 1994 | 964,401 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% |
| 2025 | 430.24 million BoP, current US$ | +3.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 430.24 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.34 million BoP, current US$, 11.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 430.24 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.73 million BoP, current US$, 31.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) 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 | +3035.5% | -94,982 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% | 964,401 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$ | -442,651 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 | 478.50 million BoP, current US$ | 296.82 million BoP, current US$ | 803.33 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 59 Bahrain 550.00 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 60 Papua New Guinea 538.99 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 61 Kazakhstan 468.52 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 63 Iraq 421.90 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 64 Kosovo 415.06 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 64 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 415.06 million BoP, current US$ compare
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 outflows in Kenya?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Kenya was 430.24 million BoP, current US$ in 2025, 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 62nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.8%. 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.