Total debt service in Kenya
Kenya: Total debt service was 27.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Kenya, 1975–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
In 2024, total debt service in Kenya stood at 27.2%.
The figure is up 28.9% on the previous year and up 139.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Kenya peaked at 39.8% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2011.
That places Kenya 18th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 14.9% | — |
| 1976 | 14.8% | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 20.5% | +38.1% |
| 1978 | 14.0% | -31.7% |
| 1979 | 18.4% | +31.5% |
| 1980 | 21.0% | +14.5% |
| 1981 | 27.0% | +28.2% |
| 1982 | 30.5% | +13.0% |
| 1983 | 33.8% | +10.8% |
| 1984 | 34.8% | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 38.7% | +11.1% |
| 1986 | 35.6% | -7.9% |
| 1987 | 39.8% | +11.7% |
| 1988 | 39.0% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 36.6% | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 35.4% | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 32.6% | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 31.1% | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 17.1% | -45.2% |
| 1994 | 20.6% | +20.5% |
| 1995 | 25.3% | +22.9% |
| 1996 | 22.4% | -11.4% |
| 1997 | 15.6% | -30.5% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 15.8% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 21.0% | +32.8% |
| 2001 | 15.9% | -24.5% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 15.8% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 8.3% | -47.7% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | +20.6% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | -28.5% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -22.8% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | -14.3% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | +140.2% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | -26.7% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | +34.1% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | +30.6% |
| 2018 | 23.7% | +62.4% |
| 2019 | 38.4% | +62.1% |
| 2020 | 24.3% | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 16.8% | -30.9% |
| 2022 | 18.1% | +8.0% |
| 2023 | 21.1% | +16.5% |
| 2024 | 27.2% | +28.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 27.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 1.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 27.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 2.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total debt service 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 | +140.2% | 4.7% | 11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.5% | 14.0% | 20.5% | 5 |
| 1980s | 33.7% | 21.0% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.1% | 14.9% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 4.9% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 4.3% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.5% | 16.8% | 27.2% | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 417.66 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0035 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 7.4 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 463.44 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -8.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0038 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 8.21 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 23.12 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Kenya?
- Total debt service in Kenya was 27.2% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 39.8% in 1987.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2011.
- How does Kenya rank for total debt service?
- Kenya ranks 18th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.