Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya
Kenya: Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) was 26.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya, 1975–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
Analysis
In 2024, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya stood at 26.0%.
That represents a change of up 35.6% on the previous year and up 137.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya peaked at 35.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2011.
That places Kenya 6th out of 118 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 5.7% | — |
| 1976 | 5.9% | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 6.7% | +14.9% |
| 1978 | 8.7% | +29.8% |
| 1979 | 10.9% | +24.3% |
| 1980 | 12.1% | +11.0% |
| 1981 | 16.3% | +35.3% |
| 1982 | 21.5% | +31.5% |
| 1983 | 24.0% | +12.0% |
| 1984 | 24.3% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 28.8% | +18.3% |
| 1986 | 27.1% | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 32.8% | +21.3% |
| 1988 | 30.8% | -6.3% |
| 1989 | 30.5% | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 28.6% | -6.4% |
| 1991 | 26.3% | -8.1% |
| 1992 | 23.5% | -10.6% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | -45.4% |
| 1994 | 17.0% | +32.4% |
| 1995 | 20.7% | +22.1% |
| 1996 | 18.9% | -9.0% |
| 1997 | 12.9% | -31.4% |
| 1998 | 12.4% | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 13.0% | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 17.3% | +32.7% |
| 2001 | 12.4% | -28.1% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 14.5% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 7.4% | -49.0% |
| 2005 | 9.5% | +28.1% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | -28.6% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -12.3% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -21.7% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -14.5% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 11.0% | +149.8% |
| 2015 | 7.0% | -36.4% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | +20.1% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | +45.7% |
| 2018 | 20.9% | +71.0% |
| 2019 | 35.4% | +69.6% |
| 2020 | 22.3% | -37.1% |
| 2021 | 15.2% | -31.8% |
| 2022 | 16.6% | +9.2% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | +15.7% |
| 2024 | 26.0% | +35.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 26.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.4%, 3.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 26.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.0%, 3.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +149.8% | 4.4% | 11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.6% | 5.7% | 10.9% | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.8% | 12.1% | 32.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.6% | 12.4% | 28.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.7% | 4.6% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 4.0% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 15.2% | 26.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More external debt data for Kenya
- IFC, private nonguaranteed -18.53 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -0.3284 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0.0002 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 23.21 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 4.5% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 820.39 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 14.54 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0068 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD 869.28 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 25.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya?
- Debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Kenya was 26.0% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2011.
- How does Kenya rank for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and)?
- Kenya ranks 6th out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Debt service, the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services, is expressed as a percentage of exports of goods and services--all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, net exports of goods under merchanting, nonmonetary gold, and services. This series differs from the standard debt to exports series in that it covers only long-term public and publicly guaranteed debt and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.