Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in Kenya
Kenya: Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) was 7.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in Kenya, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 7.1% for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in Kenya peaked at 12.8% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2025.
Kenya ranks 133rd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8.7% | — |
| 1961 | 9.2% | +5.5% |
| 1962 | 8.6% | -6.1% |
| 1963 | 8.7% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 9.6% | +10.2% |
| 1965 | 10.5% | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 10.0% | -4.9% |
| 1967 | 10.3% | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 10.4% | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 10.9% | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 10.9% | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 11.3% | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 10.4% | -8.2% |
| 1973 | 10.8% | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 11.3% | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 10.6% | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 9.9% | -6.5% |
| 1977 | 9.7% | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 10.7% | +10.6% |
| 1979 | 10.7% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 10.9% | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 10.6% | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 10.6% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 10.3% | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 10.3% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 10.3% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 10.4% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 9.9% | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 10.2% | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 10.0% | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 10.4% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 9.3% | -10.6% |
| 1993 | 8.5% | -8.6% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 8.4% | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 11.9% | +41.8% |
| 1997 | 11.6% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 10.9% | -5.5% |
| 1999 | 10.1% | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 9.8% | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 9.8% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 10.0% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 10.5% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 12.7% | +20.4% |
| 2007 | 12.8% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 12.1% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 11.5% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 11.2% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 10.9% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 10.1% | -7.7% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 9.3% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 8.4% | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 7.6% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 7.7% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 7.5% | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 7.3% | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 7.1% | -2.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 7.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.4%, 62% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 7.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.4%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +41.8% | 8.4% | 11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.7% | 8.6% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.6% | 9.7% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.4% | 9.9% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 8.4% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 9.7% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 7.9% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 7.1% | 7.7% | 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 share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in Kenya?
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in Kenya was 7.1% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2025.
- How does Kenya rank for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Kenya ranks 133rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Manufacturing comprises units engaged in the physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.