Defense expenditure in Kenya

Kenya: Defense expenditure was 27.53 billion current LCU in 2010. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2010)
27.53 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
9th
of 29 countries
All-time high
32.30 billion current LCU
in 2007
All-time low
0 current LCU
in 1979
Years of data
32
1979–2010

Defense expenditure in Kenya, 1979–2010

010.0B20.0B30.0B1979199420101979: 0 current LCU1980: 2.0B current LCU1981: 2.2B current LCU1982: 2.7B current LCU1983: 2.8B current LCU1984: 2.5B current LCU1985: 2.4B current LCU1986: 2.9B current LCU1987: 4.1B current LCU1988: 4.5B current LCU1989: 4.7B current LCU1990: 5.6B current LCU1991: 5.3B current LCU1992: 5.0B current LCU1993: 6.1B current LCU1994: 6.6B current LCU1995: 7.4B current LCU1996: 9.0B current LCU1997: 10.5B current LCU1998: 10.2B current LCU1999: 11.1B current LCU2000: 12.6B current LCU2001: 16.9B current LCU2002: 19.1B current LCU2003: 22.9B current LCU2004: 22.2B current LCU2005: 23.3B current LCU2006: 25.4B current LCU2007: 32.3B current LCU2008: 26.5B current LCU2009: 26.5B current LCU2010: 27.5B current LCU

Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in current LCU.

Analysis

In 2010, defense expenditure in Kenya stood at 27.53 billion current LCU.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 119.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, defense expenditure in Kenya peaked at 32.30 billion current LCU in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0 current LCU, in 1979.

That places Kenya 9th out of 29 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Defense expenditure in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Defense expenditure (current LCU) in Kenya, 1979 to 2010.
Year current LCU Change
1979 0 current LCU
1980 2.02 billion current LCU
1981 2.21 billion current LCU +9.6%
1982 2.69 billion current LCU +21.7%
1983 2.78 billion current LCU +3.3%
1984 2.52 billion current LCU -9.2%
1985 2.40 billion current LCU -5.0%
1986 2.94 billion current LCU +22.8%
1987 4.11 billion current LCU +39.8%
1988 4.45 billion current LCU +8.3%
1989 4.70 billion current LCU +5.6%
1990 5.65 billion current LCU +20.1%
1991 5.28 billion current LCU -6.5%
1992 5.03 billion current LCU -4.8%
1993 6.13 billion current LCU +22.0%
1994 6.58 billion current LCU +7.3%
1995 7.37 billion current LCU +12.0%
1996 9.04 billion current LCU +22.7%
1997 10.47 billion current LCU +15.9%
1998 10.16 billion current LCU -3.0%
1999 11.09 billion current LCU +9.1%
2000 12.56 billion current LCU +13.3%
2001 16.92 billion current LCU +34.7%
2002 19.06 billion current LCU +12.7%
2003 22.93 billion current LCU +20.3%
2004 22.19 billion current LCU -3.2%
2005 23.29 billion current LCU +5.0%
2006 25.37 billion current LCU +8.9%
2007 32.30 billion current LCU +27.3%
2008 26.55 billion current LCU -17.8%
2009 26.47 billion current LCU -0.3%
2010 27.53 billion current LCU +4.0%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 27.53 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.15 billion current LCU, 5.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 27.53 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.55 billion current LCU, 17.8× the median. (15 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0 current LCU 0 current LCU 0 current LCU 1
1980s 3.08 billion current LCU 2.02 billion current LCU 4.70 billion current LCU 10
1990s 7.68 billion current LCU 5.03 billion current LCU 11.09 billion current LCU 10
2000s 22.76 billion current LCU 12.56 billion current LCU 32.30 billion current LCU 10
2010s 27.53 billion current LCU 27.53 billion current LCU 27.53 billion current LCU 1

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 6 Zambia 94.57 billion current LCU compare
  2. 7 Tanzania 85.00 billion current LCU compare
  3. 8 Gabon 58.00 billion current LCU compare
  4. 10 Mauritania 22.03 billion current LCU compare
  5. 11 Mali 21.15 billion current LCU compare
  6. 12 Angola 19.00 billion current LCU compare

See the full ranking of 29 places →

More science & technology data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is defense expenditure in Kenya?
Defense expenditure in Kenya was 27.53 billion current LCU in 2010, according to World Bank country economists.
What is the highest defense expenditure recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 32.30 billion current LCU in 2007.
What is the lowest defense expenditure recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 0 current LCU in 1979.
How does Kenya rank for defense expenditure?
Kenya ranks 9th out of 29 countries with data for 2010.
Is defense expenditure rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 119.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Defense expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Defense expenditure in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/defense-expenditure-current-lcu/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Defense expenditure (current LCU)
Unit
current LCU
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
29 places, 425 data points, 1967–2011
Last refreshed

Defense expenditures for NATO countries are based on the NATO definition, which covers military-related expenditures of the defense ministry (including recruiting, training, construction, and the purchase of military supplies and equipment) and other ministries. Civilian-type expenditures of the defense ministry are excluded. Military assistance is included in the expenditures of the donor country, and purchases of military equipment on credit are included at the time the debt is incurred, not at the time of payment. Data for other countries generally cover expenditures of the ministry of defense (excluded are expenditures on public order and safety, which are classified separately). Data are in current local currency.