Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World in Kenya
Kenya: Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World was 16.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World in Kenya, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in Kenya is 16.2%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in Kenya peaked at 29.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1970.
That places Kenya 24th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.5% | — |
| 1961 | 3.6% | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 3.7% | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 5.8% | +53.9% |
| 1964 | 7.4% | +28.0% |
| 1965 | 7.8% | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 4.4% | -43.9% |
| 1967 | 4.4% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 3.8% | -14.0% |
| 1969 | 3.4% | -10.6% |
| 1970 | 2.6% | -24.2% |
| 1971 | 4.0% | +56.5% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | -22.2% |
| 1973 | 3.4% | +9.7% |
| 1974 | 4.1% | +20.1% |
| 1975 | 6.0% | +44.6% |
| 1976 | 4.0% | -33.2% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | +15.5% |
| 1978 | 6.7% | +46.1% |
| 1979 | 8.0% | +19.9% |
| 1980 | 8.8% | +8.8% |
| 1981 | 9.5% | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 11.3% | +18.8% |
| 1983 | 8.6% | -23.5% |
| 1984 | 8.3% | -3.6% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 8.5% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 6.6% | -22.3% |
| 1989 | 6.6% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8.2% | +24.3% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | +16.3% |
| 1992 | 29.8% | +214.2% |
| 1993 | 13.4% | -55.0% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | -30.0% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | -8.3% |
| 1996 | 9.4% | +8.8% |
| 1997 | 8.7% | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 11.7% | +35.2% |
| 1999 | 10.0% | -14.5% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | +38.4% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 13.5% | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 11.3% | -16.1% |
| 2004 | 11.5% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 15.5% | +30.3% |
| 2007 | 16.5% | +6.9% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 16.0% | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 19.7% | +23.2% |
| 2011 | 18.6% | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 16.3% | -8.8% |
| 2014 | 14.1% | -13.7% |
| 2015 | 15.2% | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 16.5% | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 16.3% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 17.0% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 17.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 15.0% | -12.8% |
| 2021 | 13.8% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 15.3% | +10.6% |
| 2023 | 16.2% | +5.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 16.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.9%, 8.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 16.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.2%, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +214.2% | 9.5% | 29.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.8% | 3.4% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.7% | 2.6% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.5% | 6.6% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.9% | 8.2% | 29.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.2% | 11.3% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 14.1% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More private sector data for Kenya
- Merchandise trade 22.2% (2025)
- Food imports 16.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.6% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 21.61 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 49.2% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 30.7% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 8.60 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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.42 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in Kenya?
- Merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in Kenya was 16.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to economies in the arab world recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to economies in the arab world recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for merchandise exports to economies in the arab world?
- Kenya ranks 24th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to economies in the arab world rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World are the sum of merchandise exports by the reporting economy to economies in the Arab World. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.