Military spending in Kenya
Kenya: Military spending was 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.40 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
79th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.52 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
25.95 million constant 2022 US$
in 1963
Years of data
61
1963–2023
Military spending in Kenya, 1963–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Kenya is 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Kenya peaked at 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 25.95 million constant 2022 US$, in 1963.
Kenya ranks 79th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 25.95 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1964 | 52.82 million constant 2022 US$ | +103.5% |
| 1965 | 69.95 million constant 2022 US$ | +32.4% |
| 1966 | 87.05 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.4% |
| 1967 | 108.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.7% |
| 1968 | 105.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1969 | 104.44 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 105.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 120.56 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1972 | 150.46 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.8% |
| 1973 | 165.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1974 | 175.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 206.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.8% |
| 1976 | 222.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1977 | 360.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +62.1% |
| 1978 | 364.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 725.97 million constant 2022 US$ | +99.0% |
| 1980 | 623.30 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.1% |
| 1981 | 505.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -18.9% |
| 1982 | 504.68 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 433.47 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.1% |
| 1984 | 400.20 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1985 | 355.25 million constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1986 | 357.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 375.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 420.18 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 1989 | 389.51 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 387.69 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 371.37 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.2% |
| 1992 | 360.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 309.67 million constant 2022 US$ | -14.1% |
| 1994 | 309.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 345.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1996 | 341.41 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 380.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1998 | 416.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1999 | 404.23 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 391.07 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 390.97 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 362.92 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 372.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 421.37 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.1% |
| 2005 | 491.86 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.7% |
| 2006 | 550.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.9% |
| 2007 | 753.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +36.8% |
| 2008 | 800.60 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 728.46 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 780.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 830.73 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 966.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 2013 | 1.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 1.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 1.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 2017 | 1.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 1.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 1.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 1.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 1.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 485.52 million constant 2022 US$, 2.9× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 4.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +103.5% | 25.95 million constant 2022 US$ | 52.82 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1979 | +99.0% | 364.85 million constant 2022 US$ | 725.97 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 79.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 25.95 million constant 2022 US$ | 108.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 7 |
| 1970s | 259.71 million constant 2022 US$ | 105.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 725.97 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 436.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 355.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 623.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 362.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 309.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 416.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 526.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 362.92 million constant 2022 US$ | 800.60 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 780.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 76 Sri Lanka 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 77 Ireland 1.51 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 78 Tunisia 1.44 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 80 Belarus 1.36 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 81 Serbia 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 82 Estonia 1.19 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Kenya?
- Military spending in Kenya was 1.40 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.52 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.95 million constant 2022 US$ in 1963.
- How does Kenya rank for military spending?
- Kenya ranks 79th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.