Total debt service in Kenya
Kenya: Total debt service was 3.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.6%
Change on year
up 23.2%
World rank
66th
of 119 countries
All-time high
13.0%
in 1994
All-time low
1.0%
in 2013
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Total debt service in Kenya, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2023, total debt service in Kenya stood at 3.6%.
That represents a change of up 23.2% on the previous year and up 271.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Kenya peaked at 13.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2013.
Kenya ranks 66th of 119 countries on this measure, 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
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.2% | — |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 2.3% | -22.0% |
| 1973 | 2.7% | +16.3% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | +25.5% |
| 1975 | 4.8% | +40.2% |
| 1976 | 5.1% | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | +48.0% |
| 1978 | 4.2% | -43.9% |
| 1979 | 5.0% | +18.1% |
| 1980 | 6.2% | +23.6% |
| 1981 | 7.3% | +18.7% |
| 1982 | 8.0% | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 8.9% | +10.6% |
| 1984 | 9.7% | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | -7.7% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | -7.1% |
| 1988 | 9.2% | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 8.8% | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 9.6% | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 9.2% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 11.7% | +37.4% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | -20.2% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | -31.6% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | -28.4% |
| 1998 | 4.7% | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 5.5% | +15.0% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | -13.6% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | -19.8% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -43.0% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | +28.5% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -42.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -14.2% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -19.8% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +124.2% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -36.0% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +26.8% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +60.0% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +48.0% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -37.7% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -20.2% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | +31.0% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +23.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.1% | 2.3% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.7% | 6.2% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.5% | 4.7% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.1% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 63 Tajikistan 3.8% compare
- 64 Mauritania 3.7% compare
- 65 Albania 3.7% compare
- 67 Zambia 3.6% compare
- 68 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.6% compare
- 69 Cameroon 3.5% compare
More population data for Kenya
- 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)
- Population growth rate -0.038 (2100)
- Population density 183.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.40 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.038 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.9 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled 604,257 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Kenya?
- Total debt service in Kenya was 3.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2013.
- How does Kenya rank for total debt service?
- Kenya ranks 66th out of 119 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 271.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total debt service (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release