Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) in Kenya
Kenya: Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) was 58.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Manufactures imports in Kenya, 1976–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, manufactures imports in Kenya stood at 58.3%.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures imports in Kenya peaked at 71.8% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 50.5%, in 1983.
That places Kenya 125th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 62.6% | — |
| 1977 | 67.5% | +7.8% |
| 1978 | 71.8% | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 66.7% | -7.1% |
| 1980 | 55.9% | -16.2% |
| 1981 | 53.8% | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 52.3% | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 50.5% | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 53.3% | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 54.9% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 69.0% | +25.7% |
| 1987 | 68.6% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 65.8% | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 68.0% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 54.0% | -20.5% |
| 1993 | 66.6% | +23.2% |
| 1994 | 63.6% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 71.3% | +12.0% |
| 1996 | 67.8% | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 63.2% | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 63.9% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 67.6% | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 58.3% | -13.8% |
| 2001 | 61.9% | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 65.5% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 61.2% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 61.6% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 64.4% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 62.7% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 62.4% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 58.1% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 60.2% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 62.8% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 62.0% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 70.5% | +13.8% |
| 2016 | 69.8% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 62.2% | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 63.6% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 62.9% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 65.7% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 63.1% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 54.1% | -14.2% |
| 2023 | 51.9% | -4.0% |
| 2024 | 56.6% | +9.1% |
| 2025 | 58.3% | +3.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 58.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 58.5%, 100% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 58.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56.3%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 67.1% | 62.6% | 71.8% | 4 |
| 1980s | 57.3% | 50.5% | 69.0% | 8 |
| 1990s | 65.2% | 54.0% | 71.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.6% | 58.1% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.8% | 62.0% | 70.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 58.3% | 51.9% | 65.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More private sector data for Kenya
- Merchandise trade 22.2% (2025)
- Food imports 16.6% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 21.61 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 5.73 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 50.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 29.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 8.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 7.93 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 149.5 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0633 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures imports in Kenya?
- Manufactures imports in Kenya was 58.3% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures imports recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 71.8% in 1978.
- What is the lowest manufactures imports recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.5% in 1983.
- How does Kenya rank for manufactures imports?
- Kenya ranks 125th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is manufactures imports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.