Military spending as a share of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Military spending as a share of GDP was 1.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending as a share of GDP in Kenya, 1963–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending as a share of gdp in Kenya is 1.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Kenya peaked at 5.5% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1963.
That places Kenya 118th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending as a share of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.2% | — |
| 1964 | 0.6% | +185.7% |
| 1965 | 1.0% | +67.9% |
| 1966 | 1.1% | +14.4% |
| 1967 | 1.3% | +15.2% |
| 1968 | 1.2% | -6.6% |
| 1969 | 1.1% | -11.3% |
| 1970 | 1.1% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 1.2% | +16.1% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | +25.6% |
| 1973 | 1.7% | +7.6% |
| 1974 | 1.8% | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 1.9% | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 2.5% | +32.2% |
| 1977 | 3.7% | +50.5% |
| 1978 | 5.2% | +39.0% |
| 1979 | 5.5% | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 4.5% | -17.9% |
| 1981 | 4.2% | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 4.6% | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | -8.3% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | -17.1% |
| 1985 | 2.4% | -31.7% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | +25.2% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 2.7% | -6.9% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 2.4% | -18.5% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | -19.3% |
| 1993 | 1.8% | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 1.6% | -10.7% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -13.9% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | -9.0% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | +10.7% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 1.5% | -13.9% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | -15.5% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 1.0% | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 1.1% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | 0.2% | 1.3% | 7 |
| 1970s | 2.6% | 1.1% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.5% | 2.4% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 1.2% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 15,507 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 12.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.1627 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 384.5 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 7.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 21.04 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 49,717 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.7 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Kenya?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Kenya was 1.1% in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1963.
- How does Kenya rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 118th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.