Merchandise imports in Kenya
Kenya: Merchandise imports was 10.76 billion constant US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
10.76 billion constant US$
Change on year
up 14.4%
World rank
7th
of 45 countries
All-time high
19.12 billion constant US$
in 1981
All-time low
311.51 million constant US$
in 1965
Years of data
47
1965–2011
Merchandise imports in Kenya, 1965–2011
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in constant US$.
Analysis
In 2011, merchandise imports in Kenya stood at 10.76 billion constant US$.
That represents a change of up 14.4% on the previous year and up 210.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in Kenya peaked at 19.12 billion constant US$ in 1981 and was at its lowest, 311.51 million constant US$, in 1965.
That places Kenya 7th out of 45 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 311.51 million constant US$ | — |
| 1966 | 381.94 million constant US$ | +22.6% |
| 1967 | 363.72 million constant US$ | -4.8% |
| 1968 | 373.29 million constant US$ | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 371.75 million constant US$ | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 458.53 million constant US$ | +23.3% |
| 1971 | 539.82 million constant US$ | +17.7% |
| 1972 | 599.44 million constant US$ | +11.0% |
| 1973 | 604.13 million constant US$ | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 665.64 million constant US$ | +10.2% |
| 1975 | 507.99 million constant US$ | -23.7% |
| 1976 | 1.07 billion constant US$ | +110.3% |
| 1977 | 1.20 billion constant US$ | +12.6% |
| 1978 | 1.52 billion constant US$ | +26.0% |
| 1979 | 2.02 billion constant US$ | +33.5% |
| 1980 | 2.56 billion constant US$ | +26.7% |
| 1981 | 19.12 billion constant US$ | +645.4% |
| 1982 | 13.31 billion constant US$ | -30.4% |
| 1983 | 8.58 billion constant US$ | -35.5% |
| 1984 | 9.81 billion constant US$ | +14.4% |
| 1985 | 7.74 billion constant US$ | -21.2% |
| 1986 | 9.36 billion constant US$ | +20.9% |
| 1987 | 10.28 billion constant US$ | +9.9% |
| 1988 | 10.34 billion constant US$ | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 7.26 billion constant US$ | -29.8% |
| 1990 | 7.84 billion constant US$ | +8.0% |
| 1991 | 5.96 billion constant US$ | -24.0% |
| 1992 | 4.90 billion constant US$ | -17.7% |
| 1993 | 2.67 billion constant US$ | -45.6% |
| 1994 | 3.70 billion constant US$ | +38.9% |
| 1995 | 4.19 billion constant US$ | +13.3% |
| 1996 | 4.34 billion constant US$ | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 4.44 billion constant US$ | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 4.39 billion constant US$ | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.50 billion constant US$ | -20.2% |
| 2000 | 3.61 billion constant US$ | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 3.46 billion constant US$ | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 3.16 billion constant US$ | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 4.01 billion constant US$ | +27.0% |
| 2004 | 4.54 billion constant US$ | +13.0% |
| 2005 | 5.10 billion constant US$ | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 4.87 billion constant US$ | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 5.88 billion constant US$ | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 6.93 billion constant US$ | +17.8% |
| 2009 | 6.18 billion constant US$ | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 9.40 billion constant US$ | +52.3% |
| 2011 | 10.76 billion constant US$ | +14.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 10.76 billion constant US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.16 billion constant US$, 3.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 10.76 billion constant US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.26 billion constant US$, 8.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +645.4% | 2.56 billion constant US$ | 19.12 billion constant US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 360.44 million constant US$ | 311.51 million constant US$ | 381.94 million constant US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 918.81 million constant US$ | 458.53 million constant US$ | 2.02 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.83 billion constant US$ | 2.56 billion constant US$ | 19.12 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.59 billion constant US$ | 2.67 billion constant US$ | 7.84 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.77 billion constant US$ | 3.16 billion constant US$ | 6.93 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.08 billion constant US$ | 9.40 billion constant US$ | 10.76 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 imports in Kenya?
- Merchandise imports in Kenya was 10.76 billion constant US$ in 2011, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 19.12 billion constant US$ in 1981.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 311.51 million constant US$ in 1965.
- How does Kenya rank for merchandise imports?
- Kenya ranks 7th out of 45 countries with data for 2011.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 210.9%. 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 imports (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
Total merchandise imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in 1987 constant US dollars.