Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 31.3% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Latest (2014)
31.3%
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
123rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
43.2%
in 1956
All-time low
21.8%
in 1987
Years of data
60
1955–2014
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Kenya, 1955–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kenya is 31.3%, measured in 2014.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kenya peaked at 43.2% in 1956 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 1987.
That places Kenya 123rd out of 193 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 39.6% | — |
| 1956 | 43.2% | +8.9% |
| 1957 | 42.7% | -1.2% |
| 1958 | 36.4% | -14.7% |
| 1959 | 36.4% | -0.0% |
| 1960 | 39.6% | +8.9% |
| 1961 | 38.6% | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 36.8% | -4.6% |
| 1963 | 29.9% | -18.7% |
| 1964 | 26.4% | -11.8% |
| 1965 | 27.5% | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 27.4% | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 24.7% | -9.8% |
| 1968 | 26.5% | +7.0% |
| 1969 | 24.8% | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 27.7% | +11.4% |
| 1971 | 32.0% | +15.8% |
| 1972 | 25.6% | -20.0% |
| 1973 | 24.6% | -3.8% |
| 1974 | 34.5% | +40.1% |
| 1975 | 28.8% | -16.6% |
| 1976 | 28.0% | -2.8% |
| 1977 | 28.7% | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 32.3% | +12.5% |
| 1979 | 26.6% | -17.5% |
| 1980 | 35.6% | +33.6% |
| 1981 | 29.8% | -16.1% |
| 1982 | 25.3% | -15.2% |
| 1983 | 23.1% | -8.8% |
| 1984 | 24.9% | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 23.4% | -6.0% |
| 1986 | 24.0% | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 21.8% | -9.2% |
| 1988 | 23.8% | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 26.1% | +9.5% |
| 1990 | 23.9% | -8.1% |
| 1991 | 26.7% | +11.6% |
| 1992 | 22.9% | -14.1% |
| 1993 | 33.1% | +44.5% |
| 1994 | 31.5% | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 35.9% | +13.9% |
| 1996 | 23.6% | -34.2% |
| 1997 | 24.8% | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 23.4% | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 24.0% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 25.6% | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 28.4% | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 24.9% | -12.5% |
| 2003 | 24.9% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 30.1% | +20.7% |
| 2005 | 36.6% | +21.9% |
| 2006 | 27.8% | -24.0% |
| 2007 | 27.9% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 32.4% | +16.0% |
| 2009 | 26.7% | -17.7% |
| 2010 | 28.7% | +7.6% |
| 2011 | 34.7% | +20.9% |
| 2012 | 31.8% | -8.4% |
| 2013 | 29.8% | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 31.3% | +5.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 31.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.3%, 74% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 31.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.7%, 90% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 39.7% | 36.4% | 43.2% | 5 |
| 1960s | 30.2% | 24.7% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.9% | 24.6% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.8% | 21.8% | 35.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.0% | 22.9% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.5% | 24.9% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.3% | 28.7% | 34.7% | 5 |
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 value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kenya?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kenya was 31.3% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 43.2% in 1956.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 1987.
- How does Kenya rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 123rd out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.