Total debt service in Kenya

Kenya: Total debt service was 1.3% in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
1.3%
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
19th
of 50 countries
All-time high
12.3%
in 1994
All-time low
0.7%
in 1970
Years of data
42
1970–2011

Total debt service in Kenya, 1970–2011

02.557.51012.51970199020111970: 0.701 % of GDP1971: 2.9 % of GDP1972: 2.3 % of GDP1973: 2.6 % of GDP1974: 3.3 % of GDP1975: 4.6 % of GDP1976: 4.9 % of GDP1977: 7.3 % of GDP1978: 4.1 % of GDP1979: 4.8 % of GDP1980: 6 % of GDP1981: 7.1 % of GDP1982: 7.7 % of GDP1983: 8.6 % of GDP1984: 9.3 % of GDP1985: 10.1 % of GDP1986: 9.4 % of GDP1987: 8.7 % of GDP1988: 8.8 % of GDP1989: 8.6 % of GDP1990: 9.2 % of GDP1991: 8.8 % of GDP1992: 8.2 % of GDP1993: 11 % of GDP1994: 12.3 % of GDP1995: 10 % of GDP1996: 7 % of GDP1997: 5 % of GDP1998: 4.7 % of GDP1999: 5.4 % of GDP2000: 4.7 % of GDP2001: 3.7 % of GDP2002: 4 % of GDP2003: 3.9 % of GDP2004: 2.2 % of GDP2005: 2.9 % of GDP2006: 1.9 % of GDP2007: 1.7 % of GDP2008: 1.4 % of GDP2009: 1.3 % of GDP2010: 1.2 % of GDP2011: 1.3 % of GDP

Source: World Bank, Global Development Finance. Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

In 2011, total debt service in Kenya stood at 1.3%.

The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 65.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total debt service in Kenya peaked at 12.3% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1970.

That places Kenya 19th out of 50 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Total debt service in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Total debt service (% of GDP) in Kenya, 1970 to 2011.
Year % of GDP Change
1970 0.7%
1971 2.9% +320.4%
1972 2.3% -22.2%
1973 2.6% +13.6%
1974 3.3% +25.9%
1975 4.6% +41.2%
1976 4.9% +5.1%
1977 7.3% +48.9%
1978 4.1% -43.9%
1979 4.8% +18.1%
1980 6.0% +24.3%
1981 7.1% +18.6%
1982 7.7% +9.2%
1983 8.6% +11.5%
1984 9.3% +8.5%
1985 10.1% +8.3%
1986 9.4% -7.6%
1987 8.7% -7.3%
1988 8.8% +1.8%
1989 8.6% -3.1%
1990 9.2% +7.8%
1991 8.8% -4.3%
1992 8.2% -7.5%
1993 11.0% +34.6%
1994 12.3% +12.2%
1995 10.0% -18.9%
1996 7.0% -30.4%
1997 5.0% -28.0%
1998 4.7% -6.1%
1999 5.4% +14.6%
2000 4.7% -13.4%
2001 3.7% -19.9%
2002 4.0% +8.1%
2003 3.9% -3.6%
2004 2.2% -43.0%
2005 2.9% +29.8%
2006 1.9% -33.6%
2007 1.7% -12.4%
2008 1.4% -19.2%
2009 1.3% -6.4%
2010 1.2% -1.8%
2011 1.3% +2.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.7% 0.7% 7.3% 10
1980s 8.4% 6.0% 10.1% 10
1990s 8.2% 4.7% 12.3% 10
2000s 2.8% 1.3% 4.7% 10
2010s 1.3% 1.2% 1.3% 2

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 16 South Africa 1.6% compare
  2. 17 Egypt 1.5% compare
  3. 18 Mauritius 1.4% compare
  4. 20 Cameroon 1.3% compare
  5. 21 Ethiopia 1.2% compare
  6. 22 Somalia 1.2% compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More external debt data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is total debt service in Kenya?
Total debt service in Kenya was 1.3% in 2011, according to World Bank, Global Development Finance.
What is the highest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 12.3% in 1994.
What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1970.
How does Kenya rank for total debt service?
Kenya ranks 19th out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
Is total debt service rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Global Development Finance, published as part of Total debt service (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total debt service in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Global Development Finance. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/total-debt-service-percent-of-gdp/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Total debt service (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
World Bank, Global Development Finance
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
56 places, 2,088 data points, 1970–2011
Last refreshed

Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.