Military spending per armed forces personnel in Kenya
Kenya: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 47,176 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ▼ Falling
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Kenya, 1985–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in Kenya is 47,176 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 19.5% on the previous year and up 46.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Kenya peaked at 64,528 constant 2024 US$ in 1985 and was at its lowest, 19,802 constant 2024 US$, in 1995.
That places Kenya 51st out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 64,528 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1989 | 60,985 constant 2024 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1990 | 62,176 constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 48,399 constant 2024 US$ | -22.2% |
| 1992 | 30,163 constant 2024 US$ | -37.7% |
| 1993 | 25,200 constant 2024 US$ | -16.5% |
| 1994 | 22,892 constant 2024 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1995 | 19,802 constant 2024 US$ | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 23,142 constant 2024 US$ | +16.9% |
| 1997 | 21,998 constant 2024 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 20,720 constant 2024 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 20,167 constant 2024 US$ | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 23,241 constant 2024 US$ | +15.2% |
| 2001 | 24,744 constant 2024 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 26,632 constant 2024 US$ | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 27,166 constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 26,898 constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 28,373 constant 2024 US$ | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 31,423 constant 2024 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 29,991 constant 2024 US$ | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 30,472 constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 32,308 constant 2024 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 33,040 constant 2024 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 37,349 constant 2024 US$ | +13.0% |
| 2013 | 36,873 constant 2024 US$ | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 33,522 constant 2024 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 36,176 constant 2024 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 38,919 constant 2024 US$ | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 40,078 constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 40,980 constant 2024 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 39,466 constant 2024 US$ | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 47,176 constant 2024 US$ | +19.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 47,176 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15,998 constant 2024 US$, 2.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 47,176 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,391 constant 2024 US$, 3.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 62,756 constant 2024 US$ | 60,985 constant 2024 US$ | 64,528 constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
| 1990s | 29,466 constant 2024 US$ | 19,802 constant 2024 US$ | 62,176 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,660 constant 2024 US$ | 23,241 constant 2024 US$ | 31,423 constant 2024 US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 36,871 constant 2024 US$ | 32,308 constant 2024 US$ | 40,980 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 47,176 constant 2024 US$ | 47,176 constant 2024 US$ | 47,176 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
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 per armed forces personnel in Kenya?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Kenya was 47,176 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 64,528 constant 2024 US$ in 1985.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,802 constant 2024 US$ in 1995.
- How does Kenya rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Kenya ranks 51st out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. 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.