Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in Kenya
Kenya: Government spending vs. GDP, per capita was 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
127th
of 166 countries
All-time high
257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person
in 2025
All-time low
45.91 constant 2015 US$ per person
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per person.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person for government spending vs. gdp, per capita in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.9% on the previous year and up 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per capita in Kenya peaked at 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45.91 constant 2015 US$ per person, in 1960.
That places Kenya 127th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 45.91 constant 2015 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 47.23 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 46.69 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 46.91 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 57.99 constant 2015 US$ per person | +23.6% |
| 1965 | 51.21 constant 2015 US$ per person | -11.7% |
| 1966 | 51.49 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 52.83 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 72.42 constant 2015 US$ per person | +37.1% |
| 1969 | 78.79 constant 2015 US$ per person | +8.8% |
| 1970 | 78.41 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 86.98 constant 2015 US$ per person | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 91.1 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 91.18 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 95.67 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 103.6 constant 2015 US$ per person | +8.3% |
| 1976 | 107.71 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 116.91 constant 2015 US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 129.7 constant 2015 US$ per person | +10.9% |
| 1979 | 132.45 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 130.74 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 119.35 constant 2015 US$ per person | -8.7% |
| 1982 | 113.42 constant 2015 US$ per person | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 118.71 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 114.44 constant 2015 US$ per person | -3.6% |
| 1985 | 111.46 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 115.23 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 114.85 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 112.92 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 110.59 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 111.76 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 114.49 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 121.16 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 126.44 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 158.93 constant 2015 US$ per person | +25.7% |
| 1995 | 169.66 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 169.53 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 164.21 constant 2015 US$ per person | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 165.42 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 156.9 constant 2015 US$ per person | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 148.84 constant 2015 US$ per person | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 148.24 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 146 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 150.07 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 146.33 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 140.79 constant 2015 US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 133.81 constant 2015 US$ per person | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 140.41 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 147.86 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 155.89 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 159.93 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 159.72 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 176.62 constant 2015 US$ per person | +10.6% |
| 2013 | 168.17 constant 2015 US$ per person | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 170.46 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 189.52 constant 2015 US$ per person | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 195.19 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 202.9 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 212.7 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 220.3 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 222.65 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 231.48 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 245.52 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 245.45 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 242.88 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 276.29 constant 2015 US$ per person, 93% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 161.63 constant 2015 US$ per person, 1.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | +37.1% | 52.83 constant 2015 US$ per person | 72.42 constant 2015 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.15 constant 2015 US$ per person | 45.91 constant 2015 US$ per person | 78.79 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 103.37 constant 2015 US$ per person | 78.41 constant 2015 US$ per person | 132.45 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 116.17 constant 2015 US$ per person | 110.59 constant 2015 US$ per person | 130.74 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 145.85 constant 2015 US$ per person | 111.76 constant 2015 US$ per person | 169.66 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 145.83 constant 2015 US$ per person | 133.81 constant 2015 US$ per person | 155.89 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 185.55 constant 2015 US$ per person | 159.72 constant 2015 US$ per person | 220.3 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 240.86 constant 2015 US$ per person | 222.65 constant 2015 US$ per person | 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 124 Lesotho 340.82 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 125 Laos 314.35 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 126 Nicaragua 295.37 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 128 India 233.08 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 129 Cote d'Ivoire 228.02 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 130 Senegal 222.63 constant 2015 US$ per person 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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp, per capita in Kenya?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per capita in Kenya was 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 257.21 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.91 constant 2015 US$ per person in 1960.
- How does Kenya rank for government spending vs. gdp, per capita?
- Kenya ranks 127th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per capita rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Government spending vs. GDP divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ Population, total
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
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Government spending vs. GDP divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.