Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Kenya
Kenya: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 25.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Kenya, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 25.8% for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and up 52.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Kenya peaked at 62.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1973.
Kenya ranks 14th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.4% | — |
| 1961 | 2.2% | -9.1% |
| 1962 | 1.7% | -22.7% |
| 1963 | 2.3% | +36.3% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | +285.4% |
| 1965 | 6.6% | -26.4% |
| 1966 | 2.9% | -56.1% |
| 1967 | 1.8% | -37.2% |
| 1968 | 2.4% | +33.0% |
| 1969 | 3.0% | +21.7% |
| 1970 | 2.9% | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | -23.6% |
| 1972 | 1.9% | -13.7% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | -17.1% |
| 1974 | 9.3% | +483.2% |
| 1975 | 9.0% | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 6.8% | -23.9% |
| 1977 | 8.6% | +26.0% |
| 1978 | 3.9% | -54.5% |
| 1979 | 17.0% | +334.9% |
| 1980 | 29.4% | +72.4% |
| 1981 | 32.6% | +11.2% |
| 1982 | 33.2% | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 26.1% | -21.4% |
| 1984 | 22.8% | -12.6% |
| 1985 | 22.8% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 22.8% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 19.8% | -13.0% |
| 1988 | 13.2% | -33.5% |
| 1989 | 13.2% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 12.4% | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 22.3% | +79.7% |
| 1992 | 20.6% | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 23.3% | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 10.5% | -54.8% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 16.7% | +54.9% |
| 1997 | 16.6% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.4% | +11.0% |
| 1999 | 20.9% | +13.5% |
| 2000 | 28.9% | +38.5% |
| 2001 | 25.9% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 21.5% | -17.1% |
| 2003 | 28.6% | +33.5% |
| 2004 | 62.4% | +117.9% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | -59.5% |
| 2006 | 25.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 22.4% | -11.0% |
| 2008 | 23.9% | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | -21.6% |
| 2010 | 19.2% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 24.3% | +26.0% |
| 2012 | 22.3% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 16.9% | -24.2% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | -10.0% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | -19.9% |
| 2016 | 15.3% | +25.2% |
| 2017 | 18.2% | +18.8% |
| 2018 | 21.4% | +18.1% |
| 2019 | 20.3% | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 13.8% | -32.1% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | +35.8% |
| 2022 | 26.6% | +42.3% |
| 2023 | 25.8% | -3.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 25.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.2%, 5.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 25.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.2%, 2.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +483.2% | 1.6% | 9.3% |
| 1979 | +334.9% | 3.9% | 17.0% |
| 1964 | +285.4% | 2.3% | 9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.4% | 1.7% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.3% | 1.6% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.6% | 13.2% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.2% | 10.5% | 23.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.3% | 18.8% | 62.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.5% | 12.2% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.2% | 13.8% | 26.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 11 Mauritania 26.8% compare
- 12 Ethiopia 26.4% compare
- 13 Jordan 26.1% compare
- 15 Madagascar 24.1% compare
- 16 Democratic Republic of Congo 23.6% compare
- 17 India 21.4% compare
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 imports from economies in the arab world in Kenya?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Kenya was 25.8% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 62.4% in 2004.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1973.
- How does Kenya rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Kenya ranks 14th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.5%. 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 imports from economies in the Arab World (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from economies in the Arab World. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.