Goods imports in Kenya
Kenya: Goods imports was 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Goods imports in Kenya, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ for goods imports in 2024.
The figure is up 7.6% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods imports in Kenya peaked at 22.20 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 809.72 million BoP, current US$, in 1976.
Kenya ranks 79th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Goods imports in Kenya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 846.91 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 809.72 million BoP, current US$ | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.4% |
| 1978 | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.6% |
| 1979 | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 2.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.1% |
| 1981 | 1.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.8% |
| 1982 | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.0% |
| 1983 | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.4% |
| 1984 | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1985 | 1.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1986 | 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1987 | 1.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 1.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1989 | 1.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1990 | 2.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 1.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.4% |
| 1992 | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.1% |
| 1993 | 3.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +149.0% |
| 1994 | 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1995 | 4.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.7% |
| 1996 | 4.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 5.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1998 | 6.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.7% |
| 1999 | 6.92 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 3.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -56.3% |
| 2001 | 3.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 3.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 3.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2004 | 4.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 2005 | 5.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.9% |
| 2006 | 6.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2007 | 8.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2008 | 10.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.1% |
| 2009 | 9.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2010 | 11.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 14.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2012 | 15.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 16.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 16.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 14.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2016 | 13.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 15.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.0% |
| 2018 | 16.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 16.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 15.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 19.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.4% |
| 2022 | 22.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2023 | 20.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2024 | 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.23 billion BoP, current US$, 2.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.65 billion BoP, current US$, 4.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Goods imports in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +149.0% | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.97 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 809.72 million BoP, current US$ | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 15.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is goods imports in Kenya?
- Goods imports in Kenya was 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest goods imports recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 22.20 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest goods imports recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 809.72 million BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- How does Kenya rank for goods imports?
- Kenya ranks 79th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is goods imports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Goods imports (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imports of goods occur when there are changes in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.