Personal remittances, received (current US$) (Personal IMF balance) in Kenya
Kenya: Personal remittances, received (current US$) (Personal IMF balance) was 5.11 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received in Kenya, 1970–2025
Source: IMF balance of payments data, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances, received in Kenya is 5.11 billion current US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 225.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, received in Kenya peaked at 5.11 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.26 million current US$, in 1970.
That places Kenya 43rd out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, received (current US$) (Personal IMF balance) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.26 million current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 7.26 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 13.86 million current US$ | +90.9% |
| 1973 | 12.54 million current US$ | -9.5% |
| 1974 | 18.48 million current US$ | +47.4% |
| 1975 | 13.20 million current US$ | -28.6% |
| 1976 | 9.90 million current US$ | -25.0% |
| 1977 | 18.48 million current US$ | +86.7% |
| 1978 | 26.40 million current US$ | +42.9% |
| 1979 | 19.14 million current US$ | -27.5% |
| 1980 | 27.72 million current US$ | +44.8% |
| 1981 | 78.54 million current US$ | +183.3% |
| 1982 | 67.98 million current US$ | -13.4% |
| 1983 | 58.08 million current US$ | -14.6% |
| 1984 | 56.76 million current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 66.00 million current US$ | +16.3% |
| 1986 | 52.14 million current US$ | -21.0% |
| 1987 | 66.00 million current US$ | +26.6% |
| 1988 | 76.56 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1989 | 89.10 million current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1990 | 139.26 million current US$ | +56.3% |
| 1991 | 124.08 million current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1992 | 114.84 million current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 118.14 million current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 137.28 million current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 87.50 million current US$ | -36.3% |
| 1996 | 87.54 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 506.62 million current US$ | +478.7% |
| 1998 | 531.91 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 584.85 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 537.90 million current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 50.91 million current US$ | -90.5% |
| 2002 | 57.14 million current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 65.85 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 375.81 million current US$ | +470.7% |
| 2005 | 424.99 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 570.46 million current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2007 | 645.21 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2008 | 667.32 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 631.46 million current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 685.76 million current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 934.15 million current US$ | +36.2% |
| 2012 | 1.21 billion current US$ | +29.6% |
| 2013 | 1.30 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 1.44 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2015 | 1.57 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 1.74 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2017 | 1.96 billion current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 2.72 billion current US$ | +38.6% |
| 2019 | 2.84 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 3.11 billion current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 3.77 billion current US$ | +21.3% |
| 2022 | 4.06 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 4.23 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 5.00 billion current US$ | +18.3% |
| 2025 | 5.11 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 5.11 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion current US$, 4.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 5.11 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 403.52 million current US$, 12.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances, received (current US$) (Personal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +478.7% | 87.54 million current US$ | 506.62 million current US$ |
| 2004 | +470.7% | 65.85 million current US$ | 375.81 million current US$ |
| 1981 | +183.3% | 27.72 million current US$ | 78.54 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.65 million current US$ | 7.26 million current US$ | 26.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.89 million current US$ | 27.72 million current US$ | 89.10 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 243.20 million current US$ | 87.50 million current US$ | 584.85 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 402.71 million current US$ | 50.91 million current US$ | 667.32 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 billion current US$ | 685.76 million current US$ | 2.84 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.21 billion current US$ | 3.11 billion current US$ | 5.11 billion 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, received in Kenya?
- Personal remittances, received in Kenya was 5.11 billion current US$ in 2025, according to IMF balance of payments data, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.11 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.26 million current US$ in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for personal remittances, received?
- Kenya ranks 43rd out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is personal remittances, received rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 225.9%. 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, received (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.