Arms imports in Kenya
Kenya: Arms imports was 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Kenya, 1964–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arms imports in Kenya is 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1,600.0% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Kenya peaked at 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1970.
That places Kenya 90th out of 173 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.
Arms imports in Kenya, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1965 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +150.0% |
| 1966 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.7% |
| 1967 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -89.5% |
| 1968 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.0% |
| 1970 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 1971 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1972 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -65.4% |
| 1973 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.8% |
| 1974 | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1300.0% |
| 1975 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -10.7% |
| 1976 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.0% |
| 1977 | 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +241.2% |
| 1978 | 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +263.8% |
| 1979 | 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.5% |
| 1980 | 119.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +112.5% |
| 1981 | 144.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.0% |
| 1982 | 85.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.0% |
| 1983 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -80.0% |
| 1984 | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -29.4% |
| 1985 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1986 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +333.3% |
| 1987 | 178.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +584.6% |
| 1989 | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.6% |
| 1990 | 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.5% |
| 1991 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -67.4% |
| 1994 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +114.3% |
| 1997 | 61.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +103.3% |
| 2000 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.4% |
| 2007 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.7% |
| 2009 | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +209.1% |
| 2010 | 96.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +182.4% |
| 2011 | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.5% |
| 2012 | 68.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +94.3% |
| 2013 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.5% |
| 2014 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1600.0% |
| 2015 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +76.5% |
| 2016 | 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.9% |
| 2018 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -64.7% |
| 2019 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +200.0% |
| 2020 | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +294.4% |
| 2021 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -94.4% |
| 2022 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.0% |
| 2024 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1600.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 2.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 | +1600.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2024 | +1600.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1974 | +1300.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.83 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 1970s | 43.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 70.44 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 178.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1990s | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 61.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
| 2000s | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
| 2010s | 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 96.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.25 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 90 Georgia 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 90 Uzbekistan 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 93 Angola 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 93 Fiji 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 93 Uganda 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Kenya
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- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Democracy 6 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Kenya?
- Arms imports in Kenya was 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for arms imports?
- Kenya ranks 90th out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.