Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP was 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
105th
of 166 countries
All-time high
0.591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1969
All-time low
0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in Kenya peaked at 0.591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2025.
That places Kenya 105th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.4464 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.4757 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.6% |
| 1962 | 0.4464 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.2% |
| 1963 | 0.4368 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 0.521 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +19.3% |
| 1965 | 0.4792 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.0% |
| 1966 | 0.4297 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.3% |
| 1967 | 0.4334 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 0.5629 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +29.9% |
| 1969 | 0.591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 0.556 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1971 | 0.5766 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 0.5277 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.5% |
| 1973 | 0.4592 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.0% |
| 1974 | 0.421 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1975 | 0.4295 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 0.4327 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 0.3753 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.3% |
| 1978 | 0.3652 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.7% |
| 1979 | 0.3285 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.1% |
| 1980 | 0.2882 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1981 | 0.2891 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 0.3034 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3543 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.8% |
| 1984 | 0.3422 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 0.3489 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 0.3168 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.2% |
| 1987 | 0.297 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 0.2886 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 0.2953 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 0.2985 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 0.3321 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.3% |
| 1992 | 0.3599 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.4% |
| 1993 | 0.5522 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +53.4% |
| 1994 | 0.5749 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 0.4989 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.2% |
| 1996 | 0.3848 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -22.9% |
| 1997 | 0.3518 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3391 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 0.3618 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 0.359 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 0.3609 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 0.3623 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 0.3388 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 0.3156 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 0.269 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.8% |
| 2006 | 0.1912 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -28.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.6% |
| 2008 | 0.1615 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1488 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 0.1465 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1457 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.1374 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 0.1227 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 0.115 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 0.1273 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.7% |
| 2016 | 0.1256 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1217 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1158 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 0.1124 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 0.1155 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 0.1123 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1164 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 0.1263 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 0.1138 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.9% |
| 2025 | 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.1095 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 99% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.1114 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 98% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +53.4% | 0.3599 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.5522 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.4823 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.4297 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4472 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3285 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.5766 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3124 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2882 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3543 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4054 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2985 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.5749 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2674 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1488 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3623 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.127 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1124 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1465 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1155 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1263 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 102 Costa Rica 0.1108 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 103 Honduras 0.1102 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 104 Turkey 0.1093 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 106 Panama 0.1079 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 107 Peru 0.107 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 108 Paraguay 0.1065 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP 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$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in Kenya?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in Kenya was 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1969.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1089 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025.
- How does Kenya rank for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 105th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP. 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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ GDP (current US$)
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
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.