Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Kenya
Kenya: Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 55.4% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Kenya, 1960–2011
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
In 2011, share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Kenya stood at 55.4%.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Kenya peaked at 57.3% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 31.8%, in 1962.
That places Kenya 28th out of 43 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 32.3% | — |
| 1961 | 33.6% | +4.0% |
| 1962 | 31.8% | -5.4% |
| 1963 | 32.0% | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 33.6% | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 35.4% | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 34.5% | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 35.6% | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 37.3% | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 37.7% | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 38.0% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 39.9% | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 38.5% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 38.5% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 39.6% | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 38.8% | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 36.1% | -7.0% |
| 1977 | 32.3% | -10.5% |
| 1978 | 35.6% | +10.2% |
| 1979 | 35.7% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 38.6% | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 38.8% | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 37.9% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 38.6% | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 39.8% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 40.8% | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 42.2% | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 43.8% | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 43.6% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 44.1% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 45.1% | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 46.6% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 49.1% | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 47.8% | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 47.1% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 49.9% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 51.1% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 51.8% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 52.0% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 51.1% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 50.6% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 52.7% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 54.7% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 54.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 54.8% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 55.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 55.8% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 57.3% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 55.9% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 55.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 57.3% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 55.4% | -3.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 55.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 51.6%, 1.1× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 55.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.4%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 34.4% | 31.8% | 37.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 37.3% | 32.3% | 39.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.8% | 37.9% | 44.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.2% | 45.1% | 52.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.7% | 50.6% | 57.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.3% | 55.4% | 57.3% | 2 |
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 share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Kenya?
- Share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in Kenya was 55.4% in 2011, according to Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 57.3% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.8% in 1962.
- How does Kenya rank for share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita?
- Kenya ranks 28th out of 43 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The vertical axis shows historical estimates of the value of services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage. The horizontal axis shows GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.