Military spending, per unit of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
up 11.4%
World rank
119th
of 170 countries
All-time high
0.1164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1979
All-time low
0.0117 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2022
Years of data
61
1963–2023
Military spending, per unit of GDP in Kenya, 1963–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP for military spending, per unit of gdp in 2023.
The figure is up 11.4% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in Kenya peaked at 0.1164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.0117 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2022.
Kenya ranks 119th of 170 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, per unit of GDP in Kenya, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.028 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1964 | 0.0529 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +88.8% |
| 1965 | 0.0701 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +32.5% |
| 1966 | 0.0748 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.6% |
| 1967 | 0.0881 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +17.8% |
| 1968 | 0.0779 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.5% |
| 1969 | 0.0716 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.1% |
| 1970 | 0.0661 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.7% |
| 1971 | 0.0678 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 0.0714 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 0.066 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 1974 | 0.059 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.7% |
| 1975 | 0.0633 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.3% |
| 1976 | 0.0639 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 0.0801 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +25.3% |
| 1978 | 0.0688 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.1% |
| 1979 | 0.1164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +69.3% |
| 1980 | 0.0858 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -26.3% |
| 1981 | 0.0737 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.1% |
| 1982 | 0.0785 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.4% |
| 1983 | 0.0725 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 1984 | 0.0646 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.8% |
| 1985 | 0.0579 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.4% |
| 1986 | 0.0494 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.8% |
| 1987 | 0.0471 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 0.0503 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 0.047 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 1990 | 0.0452 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 1991 | 0.0456 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 0.0439 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 0.0538 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.6% |
| 1994 | 0.0434 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.5% |
| 1995 | 0.0382 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.9% |
| 1996 | 0.0283 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -25.8% |
| 1997 | 0.029 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 0.0295 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 0.0313 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0308 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 0.0301 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.0276 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 2003 | 0.025 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 0.0262 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 0.0262 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 0.0213 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.8% |
| 2007 | 0.0236 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 0.0223 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 0.0172 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -22.9% |
| 2010 | 0.0172 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0177 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 0.0171 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 0.0173 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 0.0165 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 0.0165 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.0176 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 0.0179 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 0.0159 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 0.0152 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 0.0144 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 0.0133 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 0.0117 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.4% |
| 2023 | 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0153 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 85% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0159 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 82% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per unit of GDP 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 | +88.8% | 0.028 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0529 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP |
| 1979 | +69.3% | 0.0688 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0662 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.028 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0881 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 7 |
| 1970s | 0.0723 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.059 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0627 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.047 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0858 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0388 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0283 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0538 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.025 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0172 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0308 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0169 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0152 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0179 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0131 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0117 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0144 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 116 Tanzania 0.0131 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 117 Jamaica 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 118 Belgium 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 120 Trinidad and Tobago 0.0129 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 121 Nepal 0.0129 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 122 Brazil 0.0125 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP 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, per unit of gdp in Kenya?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in Kenya was 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1164 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0117 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 119th out of 170 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military spending divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.