Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Kenya

Kenya: Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) was 21.22 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
21.22
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
39th
of 45 countries
All-time high
35.07
in 2011
All-time low
18.89
in 2020
Years of data
28
2000–2027

Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Kenya, 2000–2027

0102030402000201320272000: 20.72001: 21.72002: 20.32003: 19.92004: 23.22005: 25.62006: 27.62007: 27.42008: 30.72009: 26.62010: 29.82011: 35.12012: 31.82013: 29.72014: 29.62015: 25.32016: 21.92017: 23.42018: 22.22019: 20.82020: 18.92021: 21.82022: 24.22023: 242024: 23.32025: 21.72026: 21.82027: 21.2

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

Kenya recorded 21.22 for imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in 2027.

That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Kenya peaked at 35.07 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 18.89, in 2020.

Kenya ranks 39th of 45 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.

Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)) in Kenya, 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 20.67
2001 21.65 +4.8%
2002 20.32 -6.1%
2003 19.91 -2.0%
2004 23.21 +16.6%
2005 25.63 +10.4%
2006 27.55 +7.5%
2007 27.44 -0.4%
2008 30.68 +11.8%
2009 26.64 -13.2%
2010 29.82 +12.0%
2011 35.07 +17.6%
2012 31.76 -9.4%
2013 29.65 -6.6%
2014 29.65 -0.0%
2015 25.34 -14.5%
2016 21.92 -13.5%
2017 23.44 +6.9%
2018 22.2 -5.3%
2019 20.77 -6.4%
2020 18.89 -9.0%
2021 21.83 +15.6%
2022 24.22 +10.9%
2023 23.99 -0.9%
2024 23.25 -3.1%
2025 21.67 -6.8%
2026 21.83 +0.8%
2027 21.22 -2.8%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 21.22 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31.7, 67% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 21.22 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.77, 71% of the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 24.37 19.91 30.68 10
2010s 26.96 20.77 35.07 10
2020s 22.11 18.89 24.22 8

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 36 Cote d'Ivoire 24.02 compare
  2. 37 Malawi 23.7 compare
  3. 38 Ethiopia 23.36 compare
  4. 40 Tanzania 20.72 compare
  5. 41 Nigeria 19.81 compare
  6. 42 Burundi 18.84 compare

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More trade data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Kenya?
Imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Kenya was 21.22 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 35.07 in 2011.
What is the lowest imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 18.89 in 2020.
How does Kenya rank for imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments)?
Kenya ranks 39th out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
Is imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/stat/imports-of-goods-and-services-percent-of-gdp-balance-of-payments-and-international/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6))
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
64 places, 1,763 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.