Government spending vs. GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Government spending vs. GDP was 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
14.80 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 8.0%
World rank
66th
of 166 countries
All-time high
14.80 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
All-time low
353.26 million constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp in Kenya is 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.0% on the previous year and up 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Kenya peaked at 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 353.26 million constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
Kenya ranks 66th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 353.26 million constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 377.22 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 387.53 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 404.70 million constant 2015 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 520.38 million constant 2015 US$ | +28.6% |
| 1965 | 478.24 million constant 2015 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1966 | 500.40 million constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1967 | 534.16 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1968 | 761.79 million constant 2015 US$ | +42.6% |
| 1969 | 861.95 million constant 2015 US$ | +13.1% |
| 1970 | 891.44 million constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 1.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.0% |
| 1972 | 1.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 1.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 1.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1975 | 1.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 1.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 1.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +12.2% |
| 1978 | 1.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1979 | 2.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 2.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 1.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 2.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 2.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 2.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 2.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 2.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 2.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 2.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 2.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 3.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 4.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +29.4% |
| 1995 | 4.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1996 | 4.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 4.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 4.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 4.67 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 4.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 4.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 4.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 5.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 5.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 5.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 4.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 5.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 5.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 6.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 6.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 6.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 7.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +13.5% |
| 2013 | 7.57 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 7.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 8.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +13.7% |
| 2016 | 9.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 9.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 10.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 11.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 11.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 12.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 13.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 13.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 13.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.32 billion constant 2015 US$, 6.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.05 billion constant 2015 US$, 7.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | +42.6% | 534.16 million constant 2015 US$ | 761.79 million constant 2015 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 517.96 million constant 2015 US$ | 353.26 million constant 2015 US$ | 861.95 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | 891.44 million constant 2015 US$ | 2.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.87 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | 4.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 4.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | 11.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | 11.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 63 Croatia 16.08 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 64 Ecuador 15.17 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 65 Uzbekistan 15.10 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 67 Luxembourg 14.14 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 68 Bulgaria 12.07 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 69 Costa Rica 11.40 billion constant 2015 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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Kenya?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Kenya was 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ 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 government spending vs. gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 14.80 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 353.26 million constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does Kenya rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Kenya ranks 66th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.8%. 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 Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.