Total reserves in Kenya
Kenya: Total reserves was 23.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Kenya, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 23.5% for total reserves in 2024.
That represents a change of up 37.2% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Kenya peaked at 48.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 1992.
That places Kenya 77th out of 111 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 34.3% | — |
| 1972 | 34.8% | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 27.6% | -20.6% |
| 1974 | 16.8% | -39.2% |
| 1975 | 13.4% | -19.8% |
| 1976 | 18.5% | +37.3% |
| 1977 | 31.7% | +71.8% |
| 1978 | 17.0% | -46.5% |
| 1979 | 24.6% | +44.8% |
| 1980 | 15.9% | -35.3% |
| 1981 | 8.1% | -48.8% |
| 1982 | 7.4% | -9.5% |
| 1983 | 11.2% | +52.1% |
| 1984 | 11.8% | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 10.0% | -15.5% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | -47.3% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 5.4% | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 3.3% | -37.8% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | -41.8% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -40.8% |
| 1993 | 6.1% | +432.6% |
| 1994 | 8.3% | +34.4% |
| 1995 | 5.3% | -36.3% |
| 1996 | 11.4% | +116.6% |
| 1997 | 12.5% | +10.2% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 12.1% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 14.6% | +20.4% |
| 2001 | 19.4% | +32.7% |
| 2002 | 17.5% | -9.6% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | +26.0% |
| 2004 | 22.0% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 27.7% | +26.0% |
| 2006 | 36.0% | +29.9% |
| 2007 | 44.3% | +23.2% |
| 2008 | 37.4% | -15.5% |
| 2009 | 44.8% | +19.8% |
| 2010 | 48.6% | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 42.5% | -12.7% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | +13.7% |
| 2013 | 47.9% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 46.6% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 38.0% | -18.4% |
| 2016 | 35.9% | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 27.2% | -24.2% |
| 2018 | 26.0% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 26.1% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 21.8% | -16.3% |
| 2021 | 23.0% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 19.2% | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 17.1% | -10.8% |
| 2024 | 23.5% | +37.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.3% | 13.4% | 34.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | 5.1% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 1.2% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.6% | 14.6% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.7% | 26.0% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.9% | 17.1% | 23.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More financial sector data for Kenya
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 28.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate 20.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.0657 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 155.28 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate 17.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 157.28 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate 17.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 157.31 SDR per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Kenya?
- Total reserves in Kenya was 23.5% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 48.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 1992.
- How does Kenya rank for total reserves?
- Kenya ranks 77th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total reserves (% of total external debt). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.