Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya
Kenya: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 3.77 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya, 1970–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya is 3.77 billion current US$, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.3% on the previous year and up 303.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya peaked at 3.77 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.26 million current US$, in 1970.
Kenya ranks 42nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.26 million current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 7.26 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 13.86 million current US$ | +90.9% |
| 1973 | 12.54 million current US$ | -9.5% |
| 1974 | 18.48 million current US$ | +47.4% |
| 1975 | 13.20 million current US$ | -28.6% |
| 1976 | 9.90 million current US$ | -25.0% |
| 1977 | 18.48 million current US$ | +86.7% |
| 1978 | 26.40 million current US$ | +42.9% |
| 1979 | 19.14 million current US$ | -27.5% |
| 1980 | 27.72 million current US$ | +44.8% |
| 1981 | 78.54 million current US$ | +183.3% |
| 1982 | 67.98 million current US$ | -13.4% |
| 1983 | 58.08 million current US$ | -14.6% |
| 1984 | 56.76 million current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 66.00 million current US$ | +16.3% |
| 1986 | 52.14 million current US$ | -21.0% |
| 1987 | 66.00 million current US$ | +26.6% |
| 1988 | 76.56 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1989 | 89.10 million current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1990 | 139.26 million current US$ | +56.3% |
| 1991 | 124.08 million current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1992 | 114.84 million current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 118.14 million current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 137.28 million current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 87.50 million current US$ | -36.3% |
| 1996 | 87.54 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 506.62 million current US$ | +478.7% |
| 1998 | 531.91 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 584.85 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 537.90 million current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 50.91 million current US$ | -90.5% |
| 2002 | 57.14 million current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 65.85 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 375.81 million current US$ | +470.7% |
| 2005 | 424.99 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 570.46 million current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2007 | 645.21 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2008 | 667.32 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 631.46 million current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 685.76 million current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 934.15 million current US$ | +36.2% |
| 2012 | 1.21 billion current US$ | +29.6% |
| 2013 | 1.30 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 1.44 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2015 | 1.57 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 1.74 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2017 | 1.96 billion current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 2.72 billion current US$ | +38.6% |
| 2019 | 2.84 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 3.11 billion current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 3.77 billion current US$ | +21.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 3.77 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 650.39 million current US$, 5.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 3.77 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 318.64 million current US$, 11.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +478.7% | 87.54 million current US$ | 506.62 million current US$ |
| 2004 | +470.7% | 65.85 million current US$ | 375.81 million current US$ |
| 1981 | +183.3% | 27.72 million current US$ | 78.54 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.65 million current US$ | 7.26 million current US$ | 26.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.89 million current US$ | 27.72 million current US$ | 89.10 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 243.20 million current US$ | 87.50 million current US$ | 584.85 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 402.71 million current US$ | 50.91 million current US$ | 667.32 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 billion current US$ | 685.76 million current US$ | 2.84 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.44 billion current US$ | 3.11 billion current US$ | 3.77 billion current US$ | 2 |
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 personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Kenya was 3.77 billion current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.77 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.26 million current US$ in 1970.
- How does Kenya rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Kenya ranks 42nd out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 303.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.