Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP was 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP in Kenya, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in Kenya is 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in Kenya peaked at 0.0467 current USD per US$ of GDP in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.0008 current USD per US$ of GDP, in 1962.
That places Kenya 117th out of 166 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.
Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current USD per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.0033 current USD per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.0011 current USD per US$ of GDP | -65.5% |
| 1962 | 0.0008 current USD per US$ of GDP | -31.5% |
| 1963 | 0.002 current USD per US$ of GDP | +159.6% |
| 1964 | 0.0059 current USD per US$ of GDP | +193.0% |
| 1965 | 0.0099 current USD per US$ of GDP | +68.5% |
| 1966 | 0.0112 current USD per US$ of GDP | +13.0% |
| 1967 | 0.013 current USD per US$ of GDP | +15.8% |
| 1968 | 0.0121 current USD per US$ of GDP | -6.8% |
| 1969 | 0.0108 current USD per US$ of GDP | -10.7% |
| 1970 | 0.0106 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 0.0124 current USD per US$ of GDP | +16.9% |
| 1972 | 0.0141 current USD per US$ of GDP | +13.7% |
| 1973 | 0.0149 current USD per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 0.0157 current USD per US$ of GDP | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 0.0166 current USD per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 0.0218 current USD per US$ of GDP | +31.6% |
| 1977 | 0.0329 current USD per US$ of GDP | +50.5% |
| 1978 | 0.0452 current USD per US$ of GDP | +37.3% |
| 1979 | 0.0467 current USD per US$ of GDP | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 0.0374 current USD per US$ of GDP | -19.9% |
| 1981 | 0.0352 current USD per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1982 | 0.0379 current USD per US$ of GDP | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 0.0349 current USD per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 1984 | 0.0283 current USD per US$ of GDP | -19.0% |
| 1985 | 0.0238 current USD per US$ of GDP | -15.9% |
| 1986 | 0.025 current USD per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0313 current USD per US$ of GDP | +25.2% |
| 1988 | 0.03 current USD per US$ of GDP | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 0.0276 current USD per US$ of GDP | -8.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0288 current USD per US$ of GDP | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 0.0235 current USD per US$ of GDP | -18.1% |
| 1992 | 0.019 current USD per US$ of GDP | -19.3% |
| 1993 | 0.0184 current USD per US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 0.0164 current USD per US$ of GDP | -10.7% |
| 1995 | 0.0165 current USD per US$ of GDP | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 0.0142 current USD per US$ of GDP | -14.0% |
| 1997 | 0.0134 current USD per US$ of GDP | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 0.0122 current USD per US$ of GDP | -9.0% |
| 1999 | 0.0118 current USD per US$ of GDP | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 0.013 current USD per US$ of GDP | +10.6% |
| 2001 | 0.015 current USD per US$ of GDP | +15.4% |
| 2002 | 0.0163 current USD per US$ of GDP | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 0.0165 current USD per US$ of GDP | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.0161 current USD per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0169 current USD per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 0.0146 current USD per US$ of GDP | -13.9% |
| 2007 | 0.0155 current USD per US$ of GDP | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 0.0162 current USD per US$ of GDP | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 0.0137 current USD per US$ of GDP | -15.5% |
| 2010 | 0.0137 current USD per US$ of GDP | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 0.0138 current USD per US$ of GDP | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.0149 current USD per US$ of GDP | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 0.014 current USD per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 0.012 current USD per US$ of GDP | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 0.012 current USD per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.0125 current USD per US$ of GDP | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 0.0124 current USD per US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 0.0121 current USD per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 0.0111 current USD per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 0.0111 current USD per US$ of GDP | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.0109 current USD per US$ of GDP | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 0.0101 current USD per US$ of GDP | -7.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0098 current USD per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP | +4.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0145 current USD per US$ of GDP, 71% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.012 current USD per US$ of GDP, 85% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 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 | +193.0% | 0.002 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0059 current USD per US$ of GDP |
| 1963 | +159.6% | 0.0008 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.002 current USD per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.007 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0008 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.013 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0231 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0106 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0467 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0311 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0238 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0379 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0174 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0118 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0288 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0154 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.013 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0169 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0128 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0111 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0149 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0104 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0098 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0111 current USD per US$ of GDP | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 114 Sudan 0.011 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 115 Thailand 0.0104 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 116 Malawi 0.0104 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 118 Malaysia 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 119 Cameroon 0.01 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 120 Nepal 0.0099 current USD per US$ of GDP 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)
- 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 unit of gdp in Kenya?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in Kenya was 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0467 current USD per US$ of GDP in 1979.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0008 current USD per US$ of GDP in 1962.
- How does Kenya rank for military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 117th out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. 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 unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.