Travel services in Kenya
Kenya: Travel services was 15.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Travel services in Kenya, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
In 2024, travel services in Kenya stood at 15.4%.
That represents a change of up 9.6% on the previous year and up 150.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, travel services in Kenya peaked at 18.0% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1982.
That places Kenya 121st out of 198 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.
Travel services in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 4.5% | — |
| 1976 | 10.1% | +124.9% |
| 1977 | 7.8% | -23.5% |
| 1978 | 9.4% | +20.7% |
| 1979 | 8.0% | -14.3% |
| 1980 | 4.6% | -42.4% |
| 1981 | 4.0% | -13.9% |
| 1982 | 3.4% | -14.5% |
| 1983 | 3.6% | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 4.2% | +11.8% |
| 1986 | 5.4% | +28.7% |
| 1987 | 4.8% | -10.9% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | -9.9% |
| 1989 | 4.4% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 5.5% | +23.0% |
| 1991 | 3.8% | -30.5% |
| 1992 | 4.9% | +30.1% |
| 1993 | 17.7% | +259.1% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 17.3% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 18.0% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 11.3% | -37.5% |
| 1998 | 10.7% | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | +14.2% |
| 2000 | 17.7% | +44.6% |
| 2001 | 17.2% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 17.3% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 11.3% | -37.5% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 12.5% | +16.6% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | +24.9% |
| 2008 | 13.8% | -11.8% |
| 2009 | 12.3% | -10.8% |
| 2010 | 10.1% | -17.7% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | -20.9% |
| 2013 | 10.6% | +45.0% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -41.9% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -19.3% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | +60.2% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -30.5% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -13.7% |
| 2020 | 5.9% | +16.1% |
| 2021 | 6.9% | +16.9% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | +35.5% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +50.3% |
| 2024 | 15.4% | +9.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.0% | 4.5% | 10.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 4.3% | 3.4% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.9% | 3.8% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.7% | 10.8% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 5.1% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 5.9% | 15.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 118 Nicaragua 15.9% compare
- 119 Poland 15.7% compare
- 120 Antigua and Barbuda 15.7% compare
- 122 Micronesia, Federated States of 15.4% compare
- 123 Azerbaijan 15.1% compare
- 124 Saint Lucia 14.9% compare
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 travel services in Kenya?
- Travel services in Kenya was 15.4% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest travel services recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 1996.
- What is the lowest travel services recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1982.
- How does Kenya rank for travel services?
- Kenya ranks 121st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is travel services rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Travel services (% of service imports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Travel services cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from an economy by nonresidents during visits to that economy, or acquired from other economies by residents during visits to these other economies. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are services provided by non-residents to residents.