Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Kenya

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Kenya in 2025 — 22.23%. Ranked 185 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 16.7 pp.

2025 22.23% −1.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 185of 189
Period maximum 55.07%1977
Period minimum 21.33%2020

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Kenya, 1960–2025203040506019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 38.92%1962: 36.98%1964: 46.86%1966: 52.04%1968: 44.93%1970: 46.59%1972: 42.42%1974: 54.85%1976: 50.63%1978: 51.55%1980: 46.38%1982: 41.5%1984: 41.07%1986: 38.86%1988: 36.56%1990: 37.97%1992: 38.74%1994: 51.45%1996: 41.65%1998: 36.93%2000: 38.09%2002: 40.78%2004: 44.96%2006: 41.57%2008: 44.93%2010: 38.02%2012: 39.75%2014: 35.89%2016: 26.47%2018: 25.41%2020: 21.33%2022: 24.97%2024: 23.53%2025: 22.23%
Change over the period: −16.7 pp Annual average: -0.26 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Kenya

Kenya 22.23%
World 43.89%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Kenya, by year Kenya All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 22.23 −1.3 pp
2024 23.53 −0.45 pp
2023 23.98 −0.99 pp
2022 24.97 +1 pp
2021 23.97 +2.64 pp
2020 21.33 −2.08 pp
2019 23.41 −2.01 pp
2018 25.41 −1.94 pp
2017 27.35 +0.88 pp
2016 26.47 −4.91 pp
2015 31.37 −4.52 pp
2014 35.89 −0.13 pp
2013 36.02 −3.73 pp
2012 39.75 −4.07 pp
2011 43.82 +5.8 pp
2010 38.02 +3.39 pp
2009 34.63 −10.3 pp
2008 44.93 +4.04 pp
2007 40.9 −0.67 pp
2006 41.57 −7.88 pp
2005 49.45 +4.49 pp
2004 44.96 +3.79 pp
2003 41.17 +0.39 pp
2002 40.78 +1.22 pp
2001 39.55 +1.46 pp
2000 38.09 +2.58 pp
1999 35.51 −1.42 pp
1998 36.93 −3.73 pp
1997 40.66 −0.99 pp
1996 41.65 −12.18 pp
1995 53.83 +2.38 pp
1994 51.45 −3.28 pp
1993 54.73 +15.99 pp
1992 38.74 +1.41 pp
1991 37.33 −0.64 pp
1990 37.97 +0.24 pp
1989 37.73 +1.16 pp
1988 36.56 +2.7 pp
1987 33.86 −5 pp
1986 38.86 −0.16 pp
1985 39.02 −2.05 pp
1984 41.07 +4.23 pp
1983 36.84 −4.65 pp
1982 41.5 −3.41 pp
1981 44.9 −1.48 pp
1980 46.38 +2.66 pp
1979 43.73 −7.82 pp
1978 51.55 −3.52 pp
1977 55.07 +4.44 pp
1976 50.63 +3.04 pp
1975 47.59 −7.26 pp
1974 54.85 +11.17 pp
1973 43.68 +1.26 pp
1972 42.42 −6.72 pp
1971 49.15 +2.56 pp
1970 46.59 +3.25 pp
1969 43.34 −1.59 pp
1968 44.93 −2.05 pp
1967 46.98 −5.06 pp
1966 52.04 +0.93 pp
1965 51.11 +4.25 pp
1964 46.86 +0.45 pp
1963 46.41 +9.43 pp
1962 36.98 −2.12 pp
1961 39.09 +0.17 pp
1960 38.92

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.