Migrant remittance inflows in Kenya
Kenya: Migrant remittance inflows was 934.15 million current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Migrant remittance inflows in Kenya, 1975–2011
Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2011, migrant remittance inflows in Kenya stood at 934.15 million current US$. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 36.2% on the previous year and up 1,734.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant remittance inflows in Kenya peaked at 934.15 million current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.62 million current US$, in 1977.
Kenya ranks 10th of 50 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Migrant remittance inflows in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 5.72 million current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 7.17 million current US$ | +25.4% |
| 1977 | 3.62 million current US$ | -49.5% |
| 1978 | 12.68 million current US$ | +249.8% |
| 1979 | 17.66 million current US$ | +39.3% |
| 1980 | 12.94 million current US$ | -26.7% |
| 1981 | 7.41 million current US$ | -42.8% |
| 1982 | 7.05 million current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1983 | 5.71 million current US$ | -19.0% |
| 1984 | 5.83 million current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 6.33 million current US$ | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 10.05 million current US$ | +58.7% |
| 1987 | 10.51 million current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 12.06 million current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1989 | 11.23 million current US$ | -6.9% |
| 1990 | 7.86 million current US$ | -30.0% |
| 1991 | 3.84 million current US$ | -51.1% |
| 1992 | 83.50 million current US$ | +2075.0% |
| 1994 | 71.36 million current US$ | -14.5% |
| 1995 | 87.50 million current US$ | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 87.54 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 506.62 million current US$ | +478.7% |
| 1998 | 531.91 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 584.85 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 50.91 million current US$ | -91.3% |
| 2002 | 57.14 million current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 65.85 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 375.81 million current US$ | +470.7% |
| 2005 | 424.99 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 570.46 million current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2007 | 645.21 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2008 | 667.32 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 631.46 million current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 685.76 million current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 934.15 million current US$ | +36.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 934.15 million current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 96.58 million current US$, 9.7× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 934.15 million current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.49 million current US$, 11.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Migrant remittance inflows in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +2075.0% | 3.84 million current US$ | 83.50 million current US$ |
| 1997 | +478.7% | 87.54 million current US$ | 506.62 million current US$ |
| 2004 | +470.7% | 65.85 million current US$ | 375.81 million current US$ |
| 1978 | +249.8% | 3.62 million current US$ | 12.68 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.37 million current US$ | 3.62 million current US$ | 17.66 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 8.91 million current US$ | 5.71 million current US$ | 12.94 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 218.33 million current US$ | 3.84 million current US$ | 584.85 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 387.68 million current US$ | 50.91 million current US$ | 667.32 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 809.95 million current US$ | 685.76 million current US$ | 934.15 million current 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 migrant remittance inflows in Kenya?
- Migrant remittance inflows in Kenya was 934.15 million current US$ in 2011, according to World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008.
- What is the highest migrant remittance inflows recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 934.15 million current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest migrant remittance inflows recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.62 million current US$ in 1977.
- How does Kenya rank for migrant remittance inflows?
- Kenya ranks 10th out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
- Is migrant remittance inflows rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,734.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008, published as part of Migrant remittance inflows (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Migrants’ remittances are defined as the sum of worker’s remittances,