Personal remittances, paid (current US$) (IMF balance) in Kenya
Kenya: Personal remittances, paid (current US$) (IMF balance) was 1.60 million current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, paid in Kenya, 1975–2025
Source: IMF balance of payments data, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, personal remittances, paid in Kenya stood at 1.60 million current US$. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is down 67.5% on the previous year and down 95.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, paid in Kenya peaked at 170.95 million current US$ in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1.60 million current US$, in 2025.
Kenya ranks 193rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, paid (current US$) (IMF balance) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 5.72 million current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 17.45 million current US$ | +205.1% |
| 1977 | 12.81 million current US$ | -26.6% |
| 1978 | 22.77 million current US$ | +77.8% |
| 1979 | 18.46 million current US$ | -18.9% |
| 1980 | 13.48 million current US$ | -27.0% |
| 1981 | 13.48 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 10.90 million current US$ | -19.2% |
| 1983 | 11.42 million current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 6.80 million current US$ | -40.5% |
| 1985 | 5.54 million current US$ | -18.5% |
| 1986 | 6.66 million current US$ | +20.2% |
| 1987 | 9.12 million current US$ | +37.0% |
| 1988 | 7.66 million current US$ | -15.9% |
| 1989 | 2.92 million current US$ | -61.9% |
| 1990 | 6.37 million current US$ | +118.5% |
| 1991 | 3.44 million current US$ | -46.0% |
| 1992 | 6.98 million current US$ | +103.1% |
| 1994 | 7.14 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 8.75 million current US$ | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 8.75 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 45.86 million current US$ | +423.9% |
| 1998 | 70.60 million current US$ | +53.9% |
| 1999 | 26.04 million current US$ | -63.1% |
| 2001 | 5.09 million current US$ | -80.4% |
| 2002 | 5.71 million current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 6.58 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 34.02 million current US$ | +416.7% |
| 2005 | 56.41 million current US$ | +65.8% |
| 2006 | 25.40 million current US$ | -55.0% |
| 2007 | 16.36 million current US$ | -35.6% |
| 2008 | 64.50 million current US$ | +294.1% |
| 2009 | 60.80 million current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 19.10 million current US$ | -68.6% |
| 2011 | 25.86 million current US$ | +35.4% |
| 2012 | 14.51 million current US$ | -43.9% |
| 2013 | 16.20 million current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2014 | 170.95 million current US$ | +955.4% |
| 2015 | 35.05 million current US$ | -79.5% |
| 2016 | 17.91 million current US$ | -48.9% |
| 2017 | 20.21 million current US$ | +12.9% |
| 2018 | 10.73 million current US$ | -46.9% |
| 2019 | 2.56 million current US$ | -76.1% |
| 2020 | 8.39 million current US$ | +227.4% |
| 2021 | 8.97 million current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 11.43 million current US$ | +27.3% |
| 2023 | 39.86 million current US$ | +248.9% |
| 2024 | 4.94 million current US$ | -87.6% |
| 2025 | 1.60 million current US$ | -67.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 1.60 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 140.53 million current US$, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 1.60 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.37 million current US$, 2% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances, paid (current US$) (IMF balance) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +955.4% | 16.20 million current US$ | 170.95 million current US$ |
| 1997 | +423.9% | 8.75 million current US$ | 45.86 million current US$ |
| 2004 | +416.7% | 6.58 million current US$ | 34.02 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.44 million current US$ | 5.72 million current US$ | 22.77 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 8.80 million current US$ | 2.92 million current US$ | 13.48 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.44 million current US$ | 3.44 million current US$ | 70.60 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 30.54 million current US$ | 5.09 million current US$ | 64.50 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 33.31 million current US$ | 2.56 million current US$ | 170.95 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.53 million current US$ | 1.60 million current US$ | 39.86 million current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More economy & growth data for Kenya
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -17.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -59.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 2.42 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -61.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 1.77 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances, paid in Kenya?
- Personal remittances, paid in Kenya was 1.60 million current US$ in 2025, according to IMF balance of payments data, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest personal remittances, paid recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 170.95 million current US$ in 2014.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, paid recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.60 million current US$ in 2025.
- How does Kenya rank for personal remittances, paid?
- Kenya ranks 193rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is personal remittances, paid rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 95.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from IMF balance of payments data, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Personal remittances, paid (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Personal remittances comprise personal transfers and compensation of employees. Personal transfers consist of all current transfers in cash or in kind made or received by resident households to or from nonresident households. Personal transfers thus include all current transfers between resident and nonresident individuals. Compensation of employees refers to the income of border, seasonal, and other short-term workers who are employed in an economy where they are not resident and of residents employed by nonresident entities. Data are the sum of two items defined in the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual: personal transfers and compensation of employees. Data are in current U.S. dollars.