Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Kenya
Kenya: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 11.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Kenya, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 11.7% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and down 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Kenya peaked at 19.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1983.
That places Kenya 16th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.7% | — |
| 1961 | 6.2% | +30.6% |
| 1962 | 5.0% | -19.8% |
| 1963 | 5.5% | +10.5% |
| 1964 | 4.6% | -17.1% |
| 1965 | 4.2% | -8.2% |
| 1966 | 4.9% | +16.2% |
| 1967 | 4.7% | -2.3% |
| 1968 | 3.9% | -18.8% |
| 1969 | 3.3% | -13.7% |
| 1970 | 2.5% | -23.6% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | -13.0% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 2.3% | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 2.2% | -7.8% |
| 1976 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | +21.3% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | -35.0% |
| 1980 | 1.6% | -14.1% |
| 1981 | 1.3% | -17.9% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | +12.2% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -35.3% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +38.8% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | +35.6% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | +20.0% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | +38.2% |
| 1992 | 4.1% | +31.4% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | -9.9% |
| 1994 | 7.0% | +88.7% |
| 1995 | 9.1% | +28.9% |
| 1996 | 6.6% | -27.8% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | -21.9% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 4.6% | -13.7% |
| 2001 | 5.5% | +20.3% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +34.2% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | +27.0% |
| 2007 | 10.3% | +25.8% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +26.5% |
| 2009 | 11.6% | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 12.9% | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 15.3% | +18.6% |
| 2013 | 19.4% | +27.4% |
| 2014 | 17.6% | -9.4% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 11.5% | -27.0% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 13.5% | +16.8% |
| 2021 | 12.0% | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 11.7% | +1.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 11.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 4.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 11.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.7% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.1% | 2.3% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.3% | 4.6% | 13.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.5% | 11.5% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 11.5% | 13.5% | 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Kenya?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Kenya was 11.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1983.
- How does Kenya rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Kenya ranks 16th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.8%. 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 low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. 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.