Military expenditure (current USD) in Kenya
Kenya: Military expenditure was 1.23 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.23 billion current USD
Change on year
up 16.8%
World rank
81st
of 168 countries
All-time high
1.23 billion current USD
in 2024
All-time low
672,000 current USD
in 1962
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Kenya, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 1.23 billion current USD for military expenditure in 2024. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is up 16.8% on the previous year and up 50.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Kenya peaked at 1.23 billion current USD in 2024 and was at its lowest, 672,000 current USD, in 1962.
Kenya ranks 81st of 168 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.
Military expenditure in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.59 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 896,000 current USD | -65.4% |
| 1962 | 672,000 current USD | -25.0% |
| 1963 | 1.86 million current USD | +177.1% |
| 1964 | 5.88 million current USD | +215.8% |
| 1965 | 9.90 million current USD | +68.3% |
| 1966 | 13.05 million current USD | +31.8% |
| 1967 | 15.99 million current USD | +22.5% |
| 1968 | 16.37 million current USD | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 15.75 million current USD | -3.8% |
| 1970 | 17.02 million current USD | +8.1% |
| 1971 | 22.08 million current USD | +29.7% |
| 1972 | 29.74 million current USD | +34.7% |
| 1973 | 37.32 million current USD | +25.5% |
| 1974 | 46.76 million current USD | +25.3% |
| 1975 | 54.09 million current USD | +15.7% |
| 1976 | 75.91 million current USD | +40.3% |
| 1977 | 147.77 million current USD | +94.7% |
| 1978 | 239.48 million current USD | +62.1% |
| 1979 | 291.02 million current USD | +21.5% |
| 1980 | 271.69 million current USD | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 241.17 million current USD | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 243.72 million current USD | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 208.69 million current USD | -14.4% |
| 1984 | 175.00 million current USD | -16.1% |
| 1985 | 145.78 million current USD | -16.7% |
| 1986 | 181.26 million current USD | +24.3% |
| 1987 | 249.81 million current USD | +37.8% |
| 1988 | 250.94 million current USD | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 228.61 million current USD | -8.9% |
| 1990 | 246.46 million current USD | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 191.91 million current USD | -22.1% |
| 1992 | 156.04 million current USD | -18.7% |
| 1993 | 105.70 million current USD | -32.3% |
| 1994 | 117.33 million current USD | +11.0% |
| 1995 | 149.10 million current USD | +27.1% |
| 1996 | 170.81 million current USD | +14.6% |
| 1997 | 175.84 million current USD | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 171.96 million current USD | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 151.92 million current USD | -11.7% |
| 2000 | 165.59 million current USD | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 195.37 million current USD | +18.0% |
| 2002 | 213.90 million current USD | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 245.94 million current USD | +15.0% |
| 2004 | 259.81 million current USD | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 316.80 million current USD | +21.9% |
| 2006 | 375.81 million current USD | +18.6% |
| 2007 | 494.69 million current USD | +31.6% |
| 2008 | 580.01 million current USD | +17.2% |
| 2009 | 578.07 million current USD | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 622.05 million current USD | +7.6% |
| 2011 | 646.68 million current USD | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 840.07 million current USD | +29.9% |
| 2013 | 860.56 million current USD | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 819.04 million current USD | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 843.67 million current USD | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 933.10 million current USD | +10.6% |
| 2017 | 1.02 billion current USD | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 1.11 billion current USD | +9.7% |
| 2019 | 1.12 billion current USD | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 1.12 billion current USD | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.19 billion current USD | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.16 billion current USD | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 1.05 billion current USD | -8.8% |
| 2024 | 1.23 billion current USD | +16.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 1.23 billion current USD is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 493.99 million current USD, 2.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 1.23 billion current USD is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 293.92 million current USD, 4.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure 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 | +215.8% | 1.86 million current USD | 5.88 million current USD |
| 1963 | +177.1% | 672,000 current USD | 1.86 million current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.29 million current USD | 672,000 current USD | 16.37 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 96.12 million current USD | 17.02 million current USD | 291.02 million current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 219.67 million current USD | 145.78 million current USD | 271.69 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 163.71 million current USD | 105.70 million current USD | 246.46 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 342.60 million current USD | 165.59 million current USD | 580.01 million current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 881.11 million current USD | 622.05 million current USD | 1.12 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.15 billion current USD | 1.05 billion current USD | 1.23 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More public sector data for Kenya
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- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Kenya?
- Military expenditure in Kenya was 1.23 billion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.23 billion current USD in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 672,000 current USD in 1962.
- How does Kenya rank for military expenditure?
- Kenya ranks 81st out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)