Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Kenya

Kenya: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP was 0.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
0.8%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
44th
of 106 countries
All-time high
0.8%
in 2024
All-time low
0.4%
in 2007
Years of data
5
2007–2024

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Kenya, 2007–2024

00.20.40.60.82007201520242007: 0.3552010: 0.6922022: 0.4072023: 0.8042024: 0.811

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Kenya stood at 0.8%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Kenya peaked at 0.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2007.

Kenya ranks 44th of 106 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) in Kenya, 2007 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2007 0.4%
2010 0.7% +94.9%
2022 0.4% -41.3%
2023 0.8% +97.8%
2024 0.8% +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 1
2010s 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 1
2020s 0.7% 0.4% 0.8% 3

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 41 Russian Federation 0.9% compare
  2. 42 Thailand 0.9% compare
  3. 43 Latvia 0.8% compare
  4. 45 Bulgaria 0.8% compare
  5. 46 Tunisia 0.7% compare
  6. 47 Uruguay 0.7% compare

See the full ranking of 136 places →

More economy & growth data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Kenya?
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp in Kenya was 0.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2024.
What is the lowest research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2007.
How does Kenya rank for research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp?
Kenya ranks 44th out of 106 countries with data for 2024.
Is research and development expenditure as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/research-and-development-expenditure-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
136 places, 2,602 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed