Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) … BPM6 in Kenya
Kenya: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) … BPM6 was 27.06 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Kenya, 2000–2027
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 27.06 for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in 2027.
That represents a change of down 6.7% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Kenya peaked at 39.42 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 16.43, in 2008.
Kenya ranks 21st of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) … BPM6 in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.38 | — |
| 2001 | 28.45 | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 31.11 | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 28.8 | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 26.01 | -9.7% |
| 2005 | 22.61 | -13.1% |
| 2006 | 21.25 | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 17.73 | -16.6% |
| 2008 | 16.43 | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 17.92 | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 17.36 | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 18.7 | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 18.06 | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 18.09 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 21.33 | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 21.98 | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 23.91 | +8.7% |
| 2017 | 26.97 | +12.8% |
| 2018 | 28 | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 26.48 | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 31.15 | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 32.63 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 33.74 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 39.42 | +16.8% |
| 2024 | 31.28 | -20.7% |
| 2025 | 29.92 | -4.3% |
| 2026 | 29 | -3.1% |
| 2027 | 27.06 | -6.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 27.06 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 27.06 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.44, 89% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.67 | 16.43 | 31.11 | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.09 | 17.36 | 28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.78 | 27.06 | 39.42 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More external debt data for Kenya
- Net financial flows, IBRD 53.30 million NFL, current US$ (2025)
- 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)
- 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, IDA (NFL, current US$), per square kilometre 1,386 NFL, current US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Use of IMF credit 5.09 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) 38.75 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, long-term 39.02 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Kenya?
- Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Kenya was 27.06 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 39.42 in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.43 in 2008.
- How does Kenya rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
- Kenya ranks 21st out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
- Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.