Annual growth of GDP per capita in Kenya
Kenya: Annual growth of GDP per capita was 2.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Kenya, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth of gdp per capita in Kenya is 2.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in Kenya peaked at 17.8% in 1971 and was at its lowest, -11.2%, in 1961.
Kenya ranks 98th of 212 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.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Kenya, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -11.2% | — |
| 1962 | 5.3% | -148.0% |
| 1963 | 4.6% | -13.3% |
| 1964 | 0.9% | -80.1% |
| 1965 | -2.0% | -313.9% |
| 1966 | 10.2% | -619.2% |
| 1967 | -0.7% | -106.4% |
| 1968 | 3.8% | -676.4% |
| 1969 | 3.8% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | -8.3% | -316.9% |
| 1971 | 17.8% | -315.9% |
| 1972 | 13.1% | -26.6% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | -82.4% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | -73.9% |
| 1975 | -2.4% | -502.4% |
| 1976 | -1.1% | -54.0% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | -629.7% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | -44.0% |
| 1979 | 4.0% | +19.9% |
| 1980 | 1.9% | -51.5% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -93.3% |
| 1982 | -2.1% | -1697.5% |
| 1983 | -2.3% | +12.8% |
| 1984 | -1.9% | -17.5% |
| 1985 | 0.6% | -129.7% |
| 1986 | 3.4% | +498.3% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | -33.5% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | +11.3% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | -57.1% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -38.3% |
| 1991 | -1.8% | -368.7% |
| 1992 | -3.8% | +111.3% |
| 1993 | -2.6% | -31.9% |
| 1994 | -0.3% | -88.2% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -587.7% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | -11.1% |
| 1997 | -2.2% | -269.3% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -121.4% |
| 1999 | -0.6% | -226.0% |
| 2000 | -2.4% | +295.5% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -124.1% |
| 2002 | -2.6% | -546.0% |
| 2003 | -0.2% | -92.4% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -1070.8% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +42.9% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | +21.3% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | +12.0% |
| 2008 | -2.8% | -175.2% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -108.4% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | +2035.9% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | -54.3% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -17.3% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | -32.7% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | +105.2% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | -27.0% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -17.2% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | +119.6% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -12.9% |
| 2020 | -2.2% | -172.0% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | -351.8% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -48.6% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +27.3% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | -27.8% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | +0.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 2.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 2.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.5%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of GDP per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +2035.9% | 0.2% | 5.0% |
| 1982 | -1697.5% | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | +1070.8% | -0.2% | 1.9% |
| 1968 | +676.4% | -0.7% | 3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.7% | -11.2% | 10.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.5% | -8.3% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6% | -2.3% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.7% | -3.8% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | -2.8% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 1.3% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | -2.2% | 5.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
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 annual growth of gdp per capita in Kenya?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in Kenya was 2.6% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 17.8% in 1971.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -11.2% in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- Kenya ranks 98th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.