Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Kenya: trade and investment
Exports is 15.8% (2025), 158th of 184 in the world and 34th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 21.8% (2025), 164th of 184 in the world and 35th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 37.5% (2025), 167th of 184 in the world and 37th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Kenya in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 15.8%2025 | 158/184 | 34/43 | 21.6% | 20.1% | 11.4% | +0.6 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 23.2% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 21.8%2025 | 164/184 | 35/43 | 31.7% | 30.3% | 19.0% | −3.4 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 26.3% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 37.5%2025 | 167/184 | 37/43 | 53.3% | 50.4% | 30.4% | −2.8 ppsince 2015 | 55.7% | 46.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -2.1%2025 | 98/185 | 16/42 | -1.6% | -5.2% | -3.3% | +4.2 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $8.6bn2025 | 110/206 | 15/48 | $1.7bn | $5.2bn | $6.0bn | +46%since 2015 | $487bn | $1.1tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 3.2%2024 | 115/170 | 15/39 | · | 6.7% | 5.1% | −0.9 ppsince 2013 | 6.0% | 14.7% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 1.8%2025 | 109/172 | 21/39 | 8.1% | 4.2% | 6.7% | −8.6 ppsince 2015 | 40.9% | 24.8% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 50.8%2025 | 28/172 | 10/39 | 59.0% | 46.9% | 48.2% | +7.4 ppsince 2015 | 14.6% | 13.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 11.7%2022 | 26/184 | 15/45 | 16.5% | 7.3% | 9.3% | −0.7 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 0.8%2025 | 150/197 | 40/46 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | −0.1 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 3.8%2025 | 66/178 | 16/41 | 4.2% | 1.5% | 3.1% | +1.5 ppsince 2015 | 3.1% | 5.8% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 2.0m2019 | 63/196 | 3/42 | 1.0m | 1.6m | 2.0m2019 | +38%since 2009 | 56.0m | 208m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $1.8bn2019 | 54/177 | 4/40 | $500m | $1.6bn | $1.8bn2019 | +57%since 2009 | $34.9bn | $145bn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Kenya and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Kenya. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Kenya | Ethiopia | Tanzania | Uganda | Somalia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 15.8%2025 | 13.3%2025 | 19.0%2025 | 21.4%2025 | 29.2%2025 | 36.7%2015 |
| Imports | 21.8%2025 | 20.2%2025 | 20.0%2025 | 28.8%2025 | 98.8%2025 | 28.9%2015 |
| Trade openness | 37.5%2025 | 33.5%2025 | 39.0%2025 | 50.2%2025 | 128.1%2025 | 65.6%2015 |
| Current account | -2.1%2025 | -2.5%2024 | -3.0%2024 | -5.2%2025 | — | 7.9%2023 |
| Merchandise exports | $8.6bn2025 | $7.6bn2025 | $10.0bn2025 | $12.5bn2025 | $1.3bn2025 | $955m2025 |
| High-tech exports | 3.2%2024 | 3.8%2023 | 3.0%2024 | 1.9%2024 | — | — |
| Fuel exports | 1.8%2025 | 0.0%2023 | 1.3%2025 | 2.3%2024 | — | — |
| Food exports | 50.8%2025 | 80.4%2023 | 31.0%2025 | 39.3%2024 | — | — |
| Average tariff | 11.7%2022 | 12.7%2021 | 8.6%2022 | 7.9%2022 | — | — |