Merchandise exports in Kenya
Kenya: Merchandise exports was 2.82 billion constant US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports in Kenya, 1965–2011
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in constant US$.
Analysis
In 2011, merchandise exports in Kenya stood at 2.82 billion constant US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports in Kenya peaked at 8.31 billion constant US$ in 1981 and was at its lowest, 236.95 million constant US$, in 1967.
That places Kenya 14th out of 48 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 241.23 million constant US$ | — |
| 1966 | 267.27 million constant US$ | +10.8% |
| 1967 | 236.95 million constant US$ | -11.3% |
| 1968 | 248.74 million constant US$ | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 270.48 million constant US$ | +8.7% |
| 1970 | 282.07 million constant US$ | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 284.82 million constant US$ | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 356.72 million constant US$ | +25.2% |
| 1973 | 431.99 million constant US$ | +21.1% |
| 1974 | 404.07 million constant US$ | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 382.52 million constant US$ | -5.3% |
| 1976 | 788.51 million constant US$ | +106.1% |
| 1977 | 1.15 billion constant US$ | +45.8% |
| 1978 | 1.05 billion constant US$ | -8.4% |
| 1979 | 1.14 billion constant US$ | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 1.49 billion constant US$ | +29.9% |
| 1981 | 8.31 billion constant US$ | +459.7% |
| 1982 | 6.63 billion constant US$ | -20.2% |
| 1983 | 5.20 billion constant US$ | -21.6% |
| 1984 | 4.66 billion constant US$ | -10.5% |
| 1985 | 4.22 billion constant US$ | -9.4% |
| 1986 | 4.89 billion constant US$ | +16.0% |
| 1987 | 4.58 billion constant US$ | -6.3% |
| 1988 | 4.45 billion constant US$ | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 3.73 billion constant US$ | -16.3% |
| 1990 | 3.76 billion constant US$ | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 3.11 billion constant US$ | -17.2% |
| 1992 | 2.64 billion constant US$ | -15.1% |
| 1993 | 1.60 billion constant US$ | -39.3% |
| 1994 | 2.10 billion constant US$ | +31.0% |
| 1995 | 2.51 billion constant US$ | +19.3% |
| 1996 | 2.56 billion constant US$ | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 2.16 billion constant US$ | -15.6% |
| 1998 | 2.08 billion constant US$ | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 1.94 billion constant US$ | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 1.82 billion constant US$ | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 1.89 billion constant US$ | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 2.10 billion constant US$ | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 2.49 billion constant US$ | +18.9% |
| 2004 | 2.72 billion constant US$ | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 3.26 billion constant US$ | +19.8% |
| 2006 | 2.58 billion constant US$ | -21.0% |
| 2007 | 3.04 billion constant US$ | +18.1% |
| 2008 | 3.12 billion constant US$ | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 2.59 billion constant US$ | -16.8% |
| 2010 | 2.71 billion constant US$ | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 2.82 billion constant US$ | +4.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 2.82 billion constant US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.03 billion constant US$, 1.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 2.82 billion constant US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 916.43 million constant US$, 3.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +459.7% | 1.49 billion constant US$ | 8.31 billion constant US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 252.93 million constant US$ | 236.95 million constant US$ | 270.48 million constant US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 627.63 million constant US$ | 282.07 million constant US$ | 1.15 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.82 billion constant US$ | 1.49 billion constant US$ | 8.31 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.45 billion constant US$ | 1.60 billion constant US$ | 3.76 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.56 billion constant US$ | 1.82 billion constant US$ | 3.26 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.76 billion constant US$ | 2.71 billion constant US$ | 2.82 billion constant US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More trade data for Kenya
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 123.35 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 102.33 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 100.02 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 99.45 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 97.73 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 69.03 (2025)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 0.3618 (2023)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 7.07 units per person (2023)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0036 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 64.46 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports in Kenya?
- Merchandise exports in Kenya was 2.82 billion constant US$ in 2011, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest merchandise exports recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 8.31 billion constant US$ in 1981.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 236.95 million constant US$ in 1967.
- How does Kenya rank for merchandise exports?
- Kenya ranks 14th out of 48 countries with data for 2011.
- Is merchandise exports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Merchandise exports (constant US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Merchandise exports (constant 1987 US$) show the f.o.b. value of goods provided to the rest of the world valued in U.S. dollars. They are classified using the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Data are in constant U.S. dollars.