Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in Kenya
Kenya: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) was 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 515.8%
World rank
46th
of 174 countries
All-time high
211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1978
All-time low
0 SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1970
Years of data
47
1964–2025
Arms imports in Kenya, 1964–2025
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 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 515.8% on the previous year and up 290.0% 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 46th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, 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 (SIPRI trend indicator values) 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 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.8% |
| 2019 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +157.1% |
| 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 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1800.0% |
| 2025 | 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +515.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 13.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 21.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +1800.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2014 | +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 | 32.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 96.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 43 Croatia 141.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 44 Russia 129.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 45 Mauritania 126.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 47 Algeria 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 47 Argentina 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 49 Venezuela 98.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Kenya
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.3012 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -75 % change on previous year (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Kenya?
- Arms imports in Kenya was 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025, 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 46th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 290.0%. 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.