Imports of goods and services in Kenya
Kenya: Imports of goods and services was 0.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Kenya, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 0.9% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of down 65.7% on the previous year and up 119.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Kenya peaked at 33.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -23.8%, in 1975.
Kenya ranks 140th of 178 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Kenya, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.9% | — |
| 1962 | 1.9% | -2.2% |
| 1963 | -3.0% | -259.3% |
| 1964 | 8.8% | -389.3% |
| 1965 | 2.0% | -77.5% |
| 1966 | 17.4% | +781.3% |
| 1967 | 1.7% | -90.4% |
| 1968 | 7.4% | +343.8% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | -68.4% |
| 1970 | 17.8% | +658.8% |
| 1971 | 16.2% | -9.1% |
| 1972 | -16.0% | -198.8% |
| 1973 | -1.5% | -90.4% |
| 1974 | 19.9% | -1387.8% |
| 1975 | -23.8% | -219.8% |
| 1976 | -2.7% | -88.9% |
| 1977 | 18.3% | -790.6% |
| 1978 | 27.5% | +50.0% |
| 1979 | -19.0% | -169.3% |
| 1980 | 10.0% | -152.5% |
| 1981 | -21.0% | -310.7% |
| 1982 | -16.1% | -23.3% |
| 1983 | -18.4% | +14.1% |
| 1984 | 17.9% | -197.1% |
| 1985 | -7.1% | -139.9% |
| 1986 | 16.8% | -336.5% |
| 1987 | 13.3% | -21.1% |
| 1988 | 9.0% | -32.1% |
| 1989 | 9.8% | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | -65.4% |
| 1991 | -4.5% | -232.7% |
| 1992 | -2.3% | -47.8% |
| 1993 | 33.8% | -1544.1% |
| 1994 | 16.8% | -50.3% |
| 1995 | 17.5% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | -89.6% |
| 1997 | 10.6% | +479.7% |
| 1998 | 4.7% | -55.6% |
| 1999 | -1.5% | -131.6% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | -229.7% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +914.8% |
| 2002 | -11.3% | -158.0% |
| 2003 | -0.1% | -99.5% |
| 2004 | 12.3% | -20063.7% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | +21.5% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | +69.4% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -82.6% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | +189.3% |
| 2009 | 8.3% | -34.5% |
| 2010 | 10.3% | +23.7% |
| 2011 | 13.8% | +33.3% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -96.9% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | +369.4% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | +464.4% |
| 2015 | -4.6% | -140.7% |
| 2016 | -7.4% | +59.9% |
| 2017 | 12.4% | -267.6% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | -88.5% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +28.6% |
| 2020 | -2.2% | -219.1% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | -1153.2% |
| 2022 | 10.9% | -52.8% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -87.7% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | +91.1% |
| 2025 | 0.9% | -65.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.5% | -3.0% | 17.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.7% | -23.8% | 27.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | -21.0% | 17.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.0% | -4.5% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | -11.3% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | -7.4% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | -2.2% | 23.1% | 6 |
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 imports of goods and services in Kenya?
- Imports of goods and services in Kenya was 0.9% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 33.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -23.8% in 1975.
- How does Kenya rank for imports of goods and services?
- Kenya ranks 140th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 119.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.