Imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya
Kenya: Imports of goods, services and primary income was 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya stood at 29.98 billion BoP, current US$. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya peaked at 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.28 billion BoP, current US$, in 1975.
That places Kenya 87th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.4% |
| 1978 | 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.6% |
| 1979 | 2.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 3.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.5% |
| 1981 | 2.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.8% |
| 1982 | 2.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.7% |
| 1983 | 1.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.2% |
| 1984 | 1.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.2% |
| 1985 | 1.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 2.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1987 | 2.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1988 | 2.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 2.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 3.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.0% |
| 1991 | 2.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.6% |
| 1992 | 2.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 5.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +104.4% |
| 1994 | 5.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.2% |
| 1995 | 6.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 5.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 1997 | 7.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.6% |
| 1998 | 8.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.7% |
| 1999 | 8.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 3.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.1% |
| 2001 | 4.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 4.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 4.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2005 | 6.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2006 | 8.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2007 | 10.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.3% |
| 2008 | 12.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.3% |
| 2009 | 11.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.9% |
| 2010 | 13.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2011 | 16.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2012 | 18.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2013 | 19.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 21.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 18.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.2% |
| 2016 | 17.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 20.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.3% |
| 2018 | 21.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 19.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2021 | 25.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.3% |
| 2022 | 29.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2023 | 28.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.74 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 2.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.53 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 12.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.82 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 84 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 33.34 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 85 Azerbaijan 32.84 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 86 Angola 30.52 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 88 Côte d'Ivoire 26.64 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 89 Uruguay 26.29 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 90 Sri Lanka 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0912 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 215.39 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 13.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1121 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 264.91 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 8.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 14.5 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya?
- Imports of goods, services and primary income in Kenya was 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ in 1975.
- How does Kenya rank for imports of goods, services and primary income?
- Kenya ranks 87th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods, services and primary income rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Imports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$). 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. Primary income represents the return that accrues to institutional units for their contribution to the production process or for the provision of financial assets and renting natural resources to other institutional units. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.