Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Kenya
Kenya: Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate was 7.97 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
7.97 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 776.2%
World rank
28th
of 166 countries
All-time high
42.61 % change on previous year
in 1968
All-time low
-8.1 % change on previous year
in 1965
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Kenya, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 7.97 % change on previous year for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is up 776.2% on the previous year and down 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Kenya peaked at 42.61 % change on previous year in 1968 and was at its lowest, -8.1 % change on previous year, in 1965.
Kenya ranks 28th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.78 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 2.73 % change on previous year | -59.7% |
| 1963 | 4.43 % change on previous year | +62.1% |
| 1964 | 28.58 % change on previous year | +545.2% |
| 1965 | -8.1 % change on previous year | -128.3% |
| 1966 | 4.63 % change on previous year | -157.2% |
| 1967 | 6.75 % change on previous year | +45.6% |
| 1968 | 42.61 % change on previous year | +531.6% |
| 1969 | 13.15 % change on previous year | -69.1% |
| 1970 | 3.42 % change on previous year | -74.0% |
| 1971 | 15.02 % change on previous year | +339.0% |
| 1972 | 8.45 % change on previous year | -43.8% |
| 1973 | 3.6 % change on previous year | -57.4% |
| 1974 | 8.53 % change on previous year | +137.0% |
| 1975 | 11.95 % change on previous year | +40.0% |
| 1976 | 7.4 % change on previous year | -38.1% |
| 1977 | 12.21 % change on previous year | +65.0% |
| 1978 | 14.82 % change on previous year | +21.4% |
| 1979 | 5.72 % change on previous year | -61.4% |
| 1980 | 2.27 % change on previous year | -60.4% |
| 1981 | -5.38 % change on previous year | -337.5% |
| 1982 | -1.51 % change on previous year | -72.0% |
| 1983 | 8.55 % change on previous year | -667.9% |
| 1984 | 0.0113 % change on previous year | -99.9% |
| 1985 | 1.01 % change on previous year | +8853.2% |
| 1986 | 7.15 % change on previous year | +605.0% |
| 1987 | 3.24 % change on previous year | -54.7% |
| 1988 | 1.85 % change on previous year | -42.8% |
| 1989 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -23.0% |
| 1990 | 4.6 % change on previous year | +222.0% |
| 1991 | 5.82 % change on previous year | +26.5% |
| 1992 | 9.12 % change on previous year | +56.9% |
| 1993 | 7.5 % change on previous year | -17.8% |
| 1994 | 29.39 % change on previous year | +291.9% |
| 1995 | 9.83 % change on previous year | -66.6% |
| 1996 | 2.71 % change on previous year | -72.4% |
| 1997 | -0.4537 % change on previous year | -116.7% |
| 1998 | 3.56 % change on previous year | -884.3% |
| 1999 | -2.38 % change on previous year | -166.8% |
| 2000 | -2.24 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 2.77 % change on previous year | -223.8% |
| 2002 | 1.64 % change on previous year | -40.7% |
| 2003 | 6.01 % change on previous year | +266.1% |
| 2004 | 0.5821 % change on previous year | -90.3% |
| 2005 | -0.7831 % change on previous year | -234.5% |
| 2006 | -2.02 % change on previous year | +157.6% |
| 2007 | 8.15 % change on previous year | -503.8% |
| 2008 | 8.55 % change on previous year | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 8.66 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 5.61 % change on previous year | -35.3% |
| 2011 | 2.65 % change on previous year | -52.7% |
| 2012 | 13.51 % change on previous year | +408.7% |
| 2013 | -2.41 % change on previous year | -117.8% |
| 2014 | 3.76 % change on previous year | -256.4% |
| 2015 | 13.68 % change on previous year | +263.8% |
| 2016 | 5.29 % change on previous year | -61.3% |
| 2017 | 6.23 % change on previous year | +17.8% |
| 2018 | 6.98 % change on previous year | +12.0% |
| 2019 | 5.63 % change on previous year | -19.4% |
| 2020 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -45.6% |
| 2021 | 5.97 % change on previous year | +94.6% |
| 2022 | 8.12 % change on previous year | +36.2% |
| 2023 | 1.97 % change on previous year | -75.7% |
| 2024 | 0.9092 % change on previous year | -53.9% |
| 2025 | 7.97 % change on previous year | +776.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 7.97 % change on previous year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.37 % change on previous year, 1.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 7.97 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.75 % change on previous year, 1.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +8853.2% | 0.0113 % change on previous year | 1.01 % change on previous year |
| 1998 | +884.3% | -0.4537 % change on previous year | 3.56 % change on previous year |
| 2025 | +776.2% | 0.9092 % change on previous year | 7.97 % change on previous year |
| 1983 | +667.9% | -1.51 % change on previous year | 8.55 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.29 % change on previous year | -8.1 % change on previous year | 42.61 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.11 % change on previous year | 3.42 % change on previous year | 15.02 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.86 % change on previous year | -5.38 % change on previous year | 8.55 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.97 % change on previous year | -2.38 % change on previous year | 29.39 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.13 % change on previous year | -2.24 % change on previous year | 8.66 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.09 % change on previous year | -2.41 % change on previous year | 13.68 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.67 % change on previous year | 0.9092 % change on previous year | 8.12 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 25 Haiti 9.37 % change on previous year compare
- 26 Cape Verde 9.17 % change on previous year compare
- 27 Philippines 8.36 % change on previous year compare
- 29 Guatemala 7.32 % change on previous year compare
- 30 Honduras 7.32 % change on previous year compare
- 31 Colombia 7.14 % change on previous year 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, annual growth rate in Kenya?
- Government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Kenya was 7.97 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 42.61 % change on previous year in 1968.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.1 % change on previous year in 1965.
- How does Kenya rank for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate?
- Kenya ranks 28th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.