Annual precipitation in Kenya
Kenya: Annual precipitation was 613.42 millimeters in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
613.42 millimeters
Change on year
down 18.6%
World rank
143rd
of 192 countries
All-time high
1,367 millimeters
in 1953
All-time low
379.03 millimeters
in 1943
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Annual precipitation in Kenya, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, annual precipitation in Kenya stood at 613.42 millimeters.
The figure is down 18.6% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual precipitation in Kenya peaked at 1,367 millimeters in 1953 and was at its lowest, 379.03 millimeters, in 1943.
Kenya ranks 143rd of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 86 years of available data.
Annual precipitation in Kenya, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 932.94 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | 733.45 millimeters | -21.4% |
| 1942 | 440.34 millimeters | -40.0% |
| 1943 | 379.03 millimeters | -13.9% |
| 1944 | 491.75 millimeters | +29.7% |
| 1945 | 507.19 millimeters | +3.1% |
| 1946 | 488.48 millimeters | -3.7% |
| 1947 | 1,109 millimeters | +127.1% |
| 1948 | 842.46 millimeters | -24.0% |
| 1949 | 848.97 millimeters | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 1,019 millimeters | +20.0% |
| 1951 | 1,294 millimeters | +27.0% |
| 1952 | 1,031 millimeters | -20.3% |
| 1953 | 1,367 millimeters | +32.5% |
| 1954 | 810.02 millimeters | -40.7% |
| 1955 | 718.2 millimeters | -11.3% |
| 1956 | 744.31 millimeters | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 928.2 millimeters | +24.7% |
| 1958 | 787.59 millimeters | -15.1% |
| 1959 | 857.47 millimeters | +8.9% |
| 1960 | 820.8 millimeters | -4.3% |
| 1961 | 1,063 millimeters | +29.5% |
| 1962 | 793.88 millimeters | -25.3% |
| 1963 | 1,031 millimeters | +29.9% |
| 1964 | 805.92 millimeters | -21.9% |
| 1965 | 677.61 millimeters | -15.9% |
| 1966 | 721.28 millimeters | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 911.28 millimeters | +26.3% |
| 1968 | 964.7 millimeters | +5.9% |
| 1969 | 560.47 millimeters | -41.9% |
| 1970 | 713.38 millimeters | +27.3% |
| 1971 | 770.21 millimeters | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 810.62 millimeters | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 630.01 millimeters | -22.3% |
| 1974 | 669.2 millimeters | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 718.68 millimeters | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 706.21 millimeters | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 1,176 millimeters | +66.5% |
| 1978 | 963.66 millimeters | -18.0% |
| 1979 | 961.64 millimeters | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 648.84 millimeters | -32.5% |
| 1981 | 862.57 millimeters | +32.9% |
| 1982 | 878.72 millimeters | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 777.37 millimeters | -11.5% |
| 1984 | 622.19 millimeters | -20.0% |
| 1985 | 816.51 millimeters | +31.2% |
| 1986 | 842.99 millimeters | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 684.75 millimeters | -18.8% |
| 1988 | 830.83 millimeters | +21.3% |
| 1989 | 840.1 millimeters | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 855.58 millimeters | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 696.96 millimeters | -18.5% |
| 1992 | 679.29 millimeters | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 624.21 millimeters | -8.1% |
| 1994 | 797.93 millimeters | +27.8% |
| 1995 | 679.64 millimeters | -14.8% |
| 1996 | 612.61 millimeters | -9.9% |
| 1997 | 1,021 millimeters | +66.6% |
| 1998 | 860.53 millimeters | -15.7% |
| 1999 | 564.8 millimeters | -34.4% |
| 2000 | 487.31 millimeters | -13.7% |
| 2001 | 699.11 millimeters | +43.5% |
| 2002 | 721.7 millimeters | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 630.88 millimeters | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 679.41 millimeters | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 543.16 millimeters | -20.1% |
| 2006 | 891.52 millimeters | +64.1% |
| 2007 | 684.01 millimeters | -23.3% |
| 2008 | 597.96 millimeters | -12.6% |
| 2009 | 500.14 millimeters | -16.4% |
| 2010 | 739.15 millimeters | +47.8% |
| 2011 | 750.06 millimeters | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 731.06 millimeters | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 803.04 millimeters | +9.8% |
| 2014 | 661.54 millimeters | -17.6% |
| 2015 | 772.16 millimeters | +16.7% |
| 2016 | 608.63 millimeters | -21.2% |
| 2017 | 607.8 millimeters | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 892.29 millimeters | +46.8% |
| 2019 | 878.84 millimeters | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 962.37 millimeters | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 494.33 millimeters | -48.6% |
| 2022 | 434.33 millimeters | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 716.35 millimeters | +64.9% |
| 2024 | 753.89 millimeters | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 613.42 millimeters | -18.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 613.42 millimeters is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,013 millimeters, 61% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 613.42 millimeters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 970.56 millimeters, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 677.37 millimeters | 379.03 millimeters | 1,109 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 955.66 millimeters | 718.2 millimeters | 1,367 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 835 millimeters | 560.47 millimeters | 1,063 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 811.91 millimeters | 630.01 millimeters | 1,176 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 780.49 millimeters | 622.19 millimeters | 878.72 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 739.21 millimeters | 564.8 millimeters | 1,021 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 643.52 millimeters | 487.31 millimeters | 891.52 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 744.46 millimeters | 607.8 millimeters | 892.29 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 662.45 millimeters | 434.33 millimeters | 962.37 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More climate change data for Kenya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 276.34 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 50,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,186 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,454 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 61.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,231 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,372 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 255.67 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.99 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual precipitation in Kenya?
- Annual precipitation in Kenya was 613.42 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual precipitation recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1,367 millimeters in 1953.
- What is the lowest annual precipitation recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 379.03 millimeters in 1943.
- How does Kenya rank for annual precipitation?
- Kenya ranks 143rd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual precipitation rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual precipitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total annual precipitation—rain and snow—calculated as the sum of daily averages, reported as the depth of water falling to Earth's surface, excluding fog and dew.