Total debt service in Kenya
Kenya: Total debt service was 4.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2024, total debt service in Kenya stood at 4.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 31.3% on the previous year and up 118.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Kenya peaked at 13.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2013.
That places Kenya 55th out of 121 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.
Total debt service in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.2% | — |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 2.3% | -22.0% |
| 1973 | 2.7% | +16.3% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | +25.5% |
| 1975 | 4.8% | +40.2% |
| 1976 | 5.1% | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | +48.0% |
| 1978 | 4.2% | -43.9% |
| 1979 | 5.0% | +18.1% |
| 1980 | 6.2% | +23.6% |
| 1981 | 7.3% | +18.7% |
| 1982 | 8.0% | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 8.9% | +10.6% |
| 1984 | 9.7% | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | -7.7% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | -7.1% |
| 1988 | 9.2% | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 8.8% | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 9.6% | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 9.2% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 11.7% | +37.4% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | -20.2% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | -31.6% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | -28.4% |
| 1998 | 4.7% | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 5.5% | +15.0% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | -13.6% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | -19.8% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -43.0% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | +28.5% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -42.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -14.2% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -19.8% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +124.2% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -36.0% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +26.8% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +60.0% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +48.0% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -37.7% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -20.2% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | +31.0% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | +23.9% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | +31.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.1% | 2.3% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.7% | 6.2% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.5% | 4.7% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.1% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.3% | 4.8% | 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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.138 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 326.09 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 4.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 14.02 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 33,121 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 11.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.5505 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Kenya?
- Total debt service in Kenya was 4.8% 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 13.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2013.
- How does Kenya rank for total debt service?
- Kenya ranks 55th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 118.8%. 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 GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.