Military spending, per unit of GDP in Kenya
Kenya: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
113th
of 160 countries
All-time high
0.296 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1978
All-time low
0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2022
Years of data
63
1963–2025
Military spending, per unit of GDP in Kenya, 1963–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP for military spending, per unit of gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in Kenya peaked at 0.296 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2022.
That places Kenya 113th out of 160 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.0347 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1964 | 0.1019 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +193.3% |
| 1965 | 0.1657 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +62.7% |
| 1966 | 0.1783 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.6% |
| 1967 | 0.2028 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +13.8% |
| 1968 | 0.1884 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 0.1685 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.5% |
| 1970 | 0.1621 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 0.1827 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.7% |
| 1972 | 0.1962 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.4% |
| 1973 | 0.186 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 0.1699 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.7% |
| 1975 | 0.1547 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.9% |
| 1976 | 0.2082 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +34.6% |
| 1977 | 0.2699 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +29.6% |
| 1978 | 0.296 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.7% |
| 1979 | 0.2741 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 0.1915 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -30.2% |
| 1981 | 0.1968 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 0.2121 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.8% |
| 1983 | 0.2137 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 0.1699 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.5% |
| 1985 | 0.1441 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.2% |
| 1986 | 0.1462 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 0.1708 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.8% |
| 1988 | 0.1573 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 1989 | 0.1472 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 0.1451 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 0.1187 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.1% |
| 1992 | 0.0882 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -25.7% |
| 1993 | 0.1051 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +19.2% |
| 1994 | 0.0705 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -33.0% |
| 1995 | 0.0639 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.3% |
| 1996 | 0.0561 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1997 | 0.049 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.7% |
| 1998 | 0.0429 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.3% |
| 1999 | 0.0457 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 0.0498 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 0.056 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.6% |
| 2002 | 0.0596 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 0.053 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 2004 | 0.0485 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 0.0439 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.4% |
| 2006 | 0.0315 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -28.2% |
| 2007 | 0.0285 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.5% |
| 2008 | 0.0242 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.0% |
| 2009 | 0.021 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 0.0207 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 0.0205 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 0.0193 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 0.0174 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 0.0143 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.9% |
| 2015 | 0.015 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 0.0151 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 0.0142 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 0.0129 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 0.0114 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 0.0112 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 0.0106 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 2022 | 0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 0.0106 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 0.0104 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0124 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 80% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 84% of the median. (45 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 | +193.3% | 0.0347 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1019 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP |
| 1965 | +62.7% | 0.1019 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1657 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1486 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0347 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2028 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 7 |
| 1970s | 0.21 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1547 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.296 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.175 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1441 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2137 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0785 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0429 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1451 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0416 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.021 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0596 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0161 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0114 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0207 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0105 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0112 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 110 Brazil 0.0104 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 111 Angola 0.0103 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 112 Austria 0.0102 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 114 Belize 0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 115 Cameroon 0.0098 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 116 Thailand 0.0096 constant 2024 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 0.01 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.296 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1978.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- Kenya ranks 113th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. 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 — 63 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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.