Personal remittances, received in Kenya
Kenya: Personal remittances, received was 4.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 4.2% for personal remittances, received in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 96.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, received in Kenya peaked at 4.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1976.
That places Kenya 66th out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, received in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.5% | — |
| 1971 | 0.4% | -9.8% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | +61.1% |
| 1973 | 0.5% | -24.0% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | +24.5% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -34.9% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -29.6% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | +44.3% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | +21.1% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -38.3% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | +24.3% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +200.3% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -7.8% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -8.1% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | +17.3% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -33.0% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +15.0% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +10.7% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +17.4% |
| 1990 | 1.6% | +51.0% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | -8.1% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +46.8% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -49.6% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -24.9% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +431.5% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -90.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +428.5% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -19.8% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | +32.0% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +23.3% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 0.7% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 0.4% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 1.5% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 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)
- 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 personal remittances, received in Kenya?
- Personal remittances, received in Kenya was 4.2% in 2024, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1976.
- How does Kenya rank for personal remittances, received?
- Kenya ranks 66th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is personal remittances, received rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Personal remittances, received (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.