Imports of goods and services in Kenya
Kenya: Imports of goods and services was 21.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Imports of goods and services in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in Kenya is 21.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Kenya peaked at 40.9% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 19.0%, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 173rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 33.7% | — |
| 1961 | 31.1% | -7.5% |
| 1962 | 30.1% | -3.2% |
| 1963 | 29.0% | -3.9% |
| 1964 | 29.2% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 30.7% | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 30.9% | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 29.4% | -4.9% |
| 1968 | 29.3% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 28.1% | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 30.7% | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 35.2% | +14.8% |
| 1972 | 28.7% | -18.4% |
| 1973 | 28.7% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 40.9% | +42.7% |
| 1975 | 34.5% | -15.6% |
| 1976 | 31.8% | -8.0% |
| 1977 | 31.6% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 38.7% | +22.5% |
| 1979 | 31.6% | -18.3% |
| 1980 | 35.9% | +13.6% |
| 1981 | 33.8% | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 31.6% | -6.7% |
| 1983 | 28.2% | -10.6% |
| 1984 | 32.1% | +13.6% |
| 1985 | 30.1% | -6.0% |
| 1986 | 29.9% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 26.4% | -11.7% |
| 1988 | 27.6% | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 30.1% | +9.1% |
| 1990 | 31.3% | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 28.6% | -8.8% |
| 1992 | 26.7% | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 34.0% | +27.3% |
| 1994 | 34.2% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 39.2% | +14.4% |
| 1996 | 32.1% | -18.0% |
| 1997 | 31.4% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 28.7% | -8.4% |
| 1999 | 27.4% | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 31.7% | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 33.0% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 30.3% | -8.3% |
| 2003 | 30.0% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 32.9% | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 36.0% | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 32.3% | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 32.0% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 34.9% | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 27.2% | -22.2% |
| 2010 | 30.3% | +11.4% |
| 2011 | 36.9% | +21.7% |
| 2012 | 31.8% | -13.8% |
| 2013 | 29.7% | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 29.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 25.2% | -15.1% |
| 2016 | 21.6% | -14.2% |
| 2017 | 23.3% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 20.3% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 19.0% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 21.9% | +15.5% |
| 2022 | 24.3% | +11.1% |
| 2023 | 24.2% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 23.2% | -4.4% |
| 2025 | 21.8% | -6.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 21.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 52% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 21.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 72% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.1% | 28.1% | 33.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 33.2% | 28.7% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.6% | 26.4% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.3% | 26.7% | 39.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.0% | 27.2% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 20.3% | 36.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.4% | 19.0% | 24.3% | 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 21.8% 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 40.9% in 1974.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.0% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for imports of goods and services?
- Kenya ranks 173rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% of GDP). 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 is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.