Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Kenya
Kenya: Military expenditure (current USD), per capita was 21.82 current USD per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Kenya, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per person.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Kenya stood at 21.82 current USD per person.
The figure is up 14.6% on the previous year and up 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Kenya peaked at 22.38 current USD per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.081 current USD per person, in 1962.
That places Kenya 130th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current USD per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.3366 current USD per person | — |
| 1961 | 0.1122 current USD per person | -66.7% |
| 1962 | 0.081 current USD per person | -27.8% |
| 1963 | 0.2158 current USD per person | +166.5% |
| 1964 | 0.6553 current USD per person | +203.6% |
| 1965 | 1.06 current USD per person | +61.8% |
| 1966 | 1.34 current USD per person | +26.7% |
| 1967 | 1.58 current USD per person | +17.8% |
| 1968 | 1.56 current USD per person | -1.6% |
| 1969 | 1.44 current USD per person | -7.5% |
| 1970 | 1.5 current USD per person | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 1.87 current USD per person | +25.1% |
| 1972 | 2.44 current USD per person | +30.1% |
| 1973 | 2.95 current USD per person | +21.2% |
| 1974 | 3.58 current USD per person | +21.1% |
| 1975 | 4 current USD per person | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 5.44 current USD per person | +35.9% |
| 1977 | 10.24 current USD per person | +88.3% |
| 1978 | 16.04 current USD per person | +56.6% |
| 1979 | 18.82 current USD per person | +17.4% |
| 1980 | 16.96 current USD per person | -9.9% |
| 1981 | 14.53 current USD per person | -14.4% |
| 1982 | 14.16 current USD per person | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 11.69 current USD per person | -17.4% |
| 1984 | 9.45 current USD per person | -19.2% |
| 1985 | 7.59 current USD per person | -19.7% |
| 1986 | 9.11 current USD per person | +20.0% |
| 1987 | 12.12 current USD per person | +33.0% |
| 1988 | 11.75 current USD per person | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 10.34 current USD per person | -12.0% |
| 1990 | 10.77 current USD per person | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 8.12 current USD per person | -24.6% |
| 1992 | 6.4 current USD per person | -21.1% |
| 1993 | 4.21 current USD per person | -34.2% |
| 1994 | 4.54 current USD per person | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 5.6 current USD per person | +23.5% |
| 1996 | 6.25 current USD per person | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 6.26 current USD per person | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 5.95 current USD per person | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 5.11 current USD per person | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 5.4 current USD per person | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 6.18 current USD per person | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 6.56 current USD per person | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 7.31 current USD per person | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 7.48 current USD per person | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 8.85 current USD per person | +18.2% |
| 2006 | 10.18 current USD per person | +15.1% |
| 2007 | 13.01 current USD per person | +27.7% |
| 2008 | 14.79 current USD per person | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 14.31 current USD per person | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 14.95 current USD per person | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 15.12 current USD per person | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 19.14 current USD per person | +26.6% |
| 2013 | 19.13 current USD per person | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 17.79 current USD per person | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 17.92 current USD per person | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 19.38 current USD per person | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 20.64 current USD per person | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 22.18 current USD per person | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 21.81 current USD per person | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 21.36 current USD per person | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 22.38 current USD per person | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 21.29 current USD per person | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 19.04 current USD per person | -10.6% |
| 2024 | 21.82 current USD per person | +14.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 21.82 current USD per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.8 current USD per person, 92% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 21.82 current USD per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.42 current USD per person, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +203.6% | 0.2158 current USD per person | 0.6553 current USD per person |
| 1963 | +166.5% | 0.081 current USD per person | 0.2158 current USD per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.838 current USD per person | 0.081 current USD per person | 1.58 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.69 current USD per person | 1.5 current USD per person | 18.82 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.77 current USD per person | 7.59 current USD per person | 16.96 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.32 current USD per person | 4.21 current USD per person | 10.77 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.41 current USD per person | 5.4 current USD per person | 14.79 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.81 current USD per person | 14.95 current USD per person | 22.18 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.18 current USD per person | 19.04 current USD per person | 22.38 current USD per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
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)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 6 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Kenya?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per capita in Kenya was 21.82 current USD per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 22.38 current USD per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.081 current USD per person in 1962.
- How does Kenya rank for military expenditure (current usd), per capita?
- Kenya ranks 130th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per capita rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.