Migrant remittance outflows in Kenya
Kenya: Migrant remittance outflows was 25.86 million current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
25.86 million current US$
Change on year
up 35.4%
World rank
28th
of 49 countries
All-time high
70.60 million current US$
in 1998
All-time low
2.92 million current US$
in 1989
Years of data
35
1975–2011
Migrant remittance outflows 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$.
Analysis
In 2011, migrant remittance outflows in Kenya stood at 25.86 million current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.4% on the previous year and up 407.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant remittance outflows in Kenya peaked at 70.60 million current US$ in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.92 million current US$, in 1989.
Kenya ranks 28th of 49 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Migrant remittance outflows in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 5.72 million current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 17.45 million current US$ | +205.1% |
| 1977 | 12.81 million current US$ | -26.6% |
| 1978 | 22.77 million current US$ | +77.8% |
| 1979 | 18.46 million current US$ | -18.9% |
| 1980 | 13.48 million current US$ | -27.0% |
| 1981 | 13.48 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 10.90 million current US$ | -19.2% |
| 1983 | 11.42 million current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 6.80 million current US$ | -40.5% |
| 1985 | 5.54 million current US$ | -18.5% |
| 1986 | 6.66 million current US$ | +20.2% |
| 1987 | 9.12 million current US$ | +37.0% |
| 1988 | 7.66 million current US$ | -15.9% |
| 1989 | 2.92 million current US$ | -61.9% |
| 1990 | 7.20 million current US$ | +146.9% |
| 1991 | 3.85 million current US$ | -46.6% |
| 1992 | 7.39 million current US$ | +92.1% |
| 1994 | 7.14 million current US$ | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 8.75 million current US$ | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 8.75 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 45.86 million current US$ | +423.9% |
| 1998 | 70.60 million current US$ | +53.9% |
| 1999 | 26.04 million current US$ | -63.1% |
| 2001 | 5.09 million current US$ | -80.4% |
| 2002 | 5.71 million current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 6.58 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 34.02 million current US$ | +416.7% |
| 2005 | 56.41 million current US$ | +65.8% |
| 2006 | 25.40 million current US$ | -55.0% |
| 2007 | 16.36 million current US$ | -35.6% |
| 2008 | 64.50 million current US$ | +294.1% |
| 2009 | 60.80 million current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 19.10 million current US$ | -68.6% |
| 2011 | 25.86 million current US$ | +35.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 25.86 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.04 million current US$, 52% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 25.86 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.76 million current US$, 84% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Migrant remittance outflows in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +423.9% | 8.75 million current US$ | 45.86 million current US$ |
| 2004 | +416.7% | 6.58 million current US$ | 34.02 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.44 million current US$ | 5.72 million current US$ | 22.77 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 8.80 million current US$ | 2.92 million current US$ | 13.48 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.62 million current US$ | 3.85 million current US$ | 70.60 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 30.54 million current US$ | 5.09 million current US$ | 64.50 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 22.48 million current US$ | 19.10 million current US$ | 25.86 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 25 Gambia 33.26 million current US$ compare
- 26 Lesotho 30.76 million current US$ compare
- 27 Central African Republic 27.38 million current US$ compare
- 29 Niger 25.20 million current US$ compare
- 30 Madagascar 21.21 million current US$ compare
- 31 Sierra Leone 20.61 million current US$ compare
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 outflows in Kenya?
- Migrant remittance outflows in Kenya was 25.86 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 outflows recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 70.60 million current US$ in 1998.
- What is the lowest migrant remittance outflows recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.92 million current US$ in 1989.
- How does Kenya rank for migrant remittance outflows?
- Kenya ranks 28th out of 49 countries with data for 2011.
- Is migrant remittance outflows rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 407.9%. 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 outflows (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,