Kenya: Economic Turmoil Awaits New Central Bank Governor
The new Central Bank of Kenya governor Kamau Thugge brings with him a stellar résumé of previous experience in government and 25 years at the IMF.
Kenya GDP and Economic Data
Includes Kenya real Gross Domestic Product growth rate, with latest forecasts and historical data, GDP per capita, GDP composition and breakdown by sector.
Browse additional economic indicators and data sets, selected by Global Finance editors, to learn more about Kenya economic outlook, debt to GDP ratio, international trade performance and population trends. Rankings of Kenya best banks and safest banks are also available.
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International Reserves
USD 7.5 billion (2015)
International Monetary Fund (IMF), data retrieved January 2017
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
Intl$ 165.6 billion (2017, estimate)
Source
Real GDP growth
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| 5.9% | 6.9% | 0.2% | 3.3% | 8.4% | 6.1% | 4.6% |
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016* | 2017* | ||
| 5.7% | 5.3% | 5.7% | 6% | 6.1% |
*Estimate
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GDP (PPP) - share of world total
| 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2017* |
| 0.13% | 0.14% | 0.11% | 0.12% | 0.1% |
*Estimate
Source
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GDP - composition by sector
- agriculture: 32.7%
- industry: 18%
- services: 49.3%
(2016 estimate)
Inflation
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016* | 2017* |
| 5.7% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.5% |
*Estimate
Source
Unemployment rate
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*Estimate
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Public debt (General government gross debt as a % of GDP)
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016* | 2017* |
| 41.5% | 46.7% | 51.3% | 52.7% | 53% |
*Estimate
Source
Public deficit (General government net lending/borrowing as a % of GDP)
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016* | 2017* |
| -5.7% | -7.4% | -8.3% | -7.4% | -6.4% |
*Estimate
Source
Government bond ratings
Standard & Poor's: B+
Moody'S: B1
Standard & Poor's / Moody's (Updated January 2017)
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Market value of publicly traded shares
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source
Exports as percent of GDP (Exports of goods and services)
9.7% (2020)
Shares in world total merchandising export
0.03% (2020)
Shares in world total commercial services export
0.08% (2019)
Export commodities
Tea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, coffee, titanium (2019)
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Import commodities
Refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, wheat, iron products (2019)
Exports - major partners
Uganda 10%, United States 9%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 7%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Tanzania 5% (2019)
Imports - major partners
China 24%, United Arab Emirates 10%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (2019)
FDI inflows
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| USD 1,139 million | USD 1,098 million | USD 717 million |
FDI outflows
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| USD 11 million | USD 11 million | USD -7.1 million |
Value of cross-border M&A, by country of purchaser
N/A
Cross-border M&A deals worth over $3 billion completed in 2014
N/A
Cross-border M&A deals worth over $3 billion completed in 2015
N/A
Best countries for doing business
Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm.
Overall ranking: 56 out of 190 countries (2020)
Subcategories:
Starting a business: 129 out of 190 countries
Enforcing Contracts: 89 out of 190 countries
Registering Property: 134 out of 190 countries
Getting Credit: 4 out of 190 countries
Protecting Minority Investors: 1 out of 190 countries
Trading Across Borders: 117 out of 190 countries
Paying Taxes: 94 out of 190 countries
Dealing with Construction Permits: 105 out of 190 countries
Getting Electricity: 106 out of 190 countries
Resolving Insolvency: 50 out of 190 countries
Source
Global competitiveness ranking
13 out of 141 (2019)
Index of Economic Freedom
Ranking: 138 / Score: 52.6 (Mostly Unfree)
(100=totally free 0=totally repressed)
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Languages
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Religions
Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.)
Total population
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020* |
| 23.7 million | 32.0 million | 42.0 million | 47.9 million | 53.8 million |
*Estimate
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Urban population as % of total population
| 1960 | 1980 | 2000 | 2020 |
| 7.4% | 15.6% | 19.9% | 28.0% |
Literacy
Total population: 81.5%
Male: 85%
Female: 78.2% (2018)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
% of population living on less than $3.10 a day
66.5% (last available estimate, 2015)
Inequality of wealth distribution (Gini index)
40.8 (last available estimate, 2015)
Source
Freedom House rating
Total score: 48/100
Status: Partly Free
Political Rights: 19/40
Civil Liberties: 29/60 (2022)
Source
Total telephone subscribers as % of population
Fixed: 0.1%
Mobile: 114.2% (2020)
(fixed-telephone subscribers and mobile-cellular subscribers)