Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP was 4.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Kenya, 1970–2024
Source: World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Kenya stood at 4.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 96.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Kenya peaked at 4.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1976.
That places Kenya 65th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.5% | — |
| 1971 | 0.4% | -9.8% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | +61.1% |
| 1973 | 0.5% | -24.0% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | +24.5% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -34.9% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -29.6% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | +44.3% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | +21.1% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -38.3% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | +24.3% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +200.3% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -7.8% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -8.1% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | +17.3% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -33.0% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +15.0% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +10.7% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +17.4% |
| 1990 | 1.6% | +51.0% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | -8.1% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +46.8% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -49.6% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -24.9% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +431.5% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -90.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +428.5% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -19.8% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | +32.0% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +23.3% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 0.7% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 0.4% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 1.5% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 62 Ethiopia 4.8% compare
- 63 Sierra Leone 4.6% compare
- 64 Cambodia 4.3% compare
- 66 Palestine, State of 4.0% compare
- 67 Mali 4.0% compare
- 68 Afghanistan 4.0% compare
More population data for Kenya
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1094 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 85,212 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7363 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 183.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.40 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Kenya?
- Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Kenya was 4.2% in 2024, according to World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1976.
- How does Kenya rank for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 65th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.8%. 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 IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Money sent or brought back by migrants refers to remittances a country has received in this year.