Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Kenya
Kenya: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 42.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Kenya, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Kenya is 42.5%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Kenya peaked at 50.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 1981.
That places Kenya 25th out of 206 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.9% | — |
| 1961 | 14.3% | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 14.8% | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 14.0% | -5.5% |
| 1964 | 10.7% | -23.7% |
| 1965 | 14.3% | +34.0% |
| 1966 | 16.6% | +16.5% |
| 1967 | 15.1% | -9.1% |
| 1968 | 13.6% | -9.8% |
| 1969 | 12.3% | -9.9% |
| 1970 | 10.4% | -15.4% |
| 1971 | 10.4% | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 12.3% | +18.1% |
| 1973 | 12.4% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 18.0% | +44.5% |
| 1975 | 20.4% | +13.7% |
| 1976 | 21.3% | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 15.1% | -29.3% |
| 1978 | 12.3% | -18.4% |
| 1979 | 9.2% | -24.9% |
| 1980 | 6.0% | -34.5% |
| 1981 | 5.4% | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 9.7% | +81.3% |
| 1983 | 13.5% | +38.6% |
| 1984 | 15.4% | +14.1% |
| 1985 | 15.4% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 15.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 6.9% | -55.3% |
| 1988 | 8.1% | +17.6% |
| 1989 | 8.1% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7.7% | -4.7% |
| 1991 | 12.0% | +55.8% |
| 1992 | 14.3% | +19.3% |
| 1993 | 12.6% | -12.4% |
| 1994 | 15.2% | +20.9% |
| 1995 | 17.4% | +14.8% |
| 1996 | 17.1% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 13.7% | -19.8% |
| 1998 | 17.1% | +24.3% |
| 1999 | 14.5% | -15.2% |
| 2000 | 14.2% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 16.9% | +19.7% |
| 2002 | 20.2% | +19.2% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 19.4% | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 22.4% | +15.8% |
| 2007 | 27.9% | +24.5% |
| 2008 | 31.8% | +13.9% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 34.3% | +13.2% |
| 2011 | 35.3% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 40.2% | +14.0% |
| 2013 | 43.4% | +8.0% |
| 2014 | 42.0% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 46.4% | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 49.4% | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 48.0% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 43.9% | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 43.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 50.4% | +14.7% |
| 2021 | 46.5% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 42.9% | -7.7% |
| 2023 | 42.5% | -1.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 42.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.9%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 42.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.0%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.0% | 10.7% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.2% | 9.2% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.4% | 5.4% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.2% | 7.7% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.7% | 14.2% | 31.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 42.7% | 34.3% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.6% | 42.5% | 50.4% | 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 outside in Kenya?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Kenya was 42.5% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 50.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 1981.
- How does Kenya rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Kenya ranks 25th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions 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.