Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Kenya
Kenya: Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions was 4.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Kenya, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 4.6% for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Kenya peaked at 22.2% in 1971 and was at its lowest, -7.8%, in 1961.
That places Kenya 59th out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Kenya, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -7.8% | — |
| 1962 | 9.5% | -221.6% |
| 1963 | 8.8% | -7.2% |
| 1964 | 5.0% | -43.4% |
| 1965 | 2.0% | -59.5% |
| 1966 | 14.7% | +633.1% |
| 1967 | 3.4% | -77.2% |
| 1968 | 8.0% | +137.5% |
| 1969 | 8.0% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | -4.7% | -158.5% |
| 1971 | 22.2% | -576.3% |
| 1972 | 17.1% | -23.0% |
| 1973 | 5.9% | -65.5% |
| 1974 | 4.1% | -31.1% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | -78.3% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | +144.2% |
| 1977 | 9.5% | +338.9% |
| 1978 | 6.9% | -26.9% |
| 1979 | 7.6% | +10.2% |
| 1980 | 5.6% | -26.6% |
| 1981 | 3.8% | -32.5% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | -60.1% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -13.1% |
| 1984 | 1.8% | +34.1% |
| 1985 | 4.3% | +145.0% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | +66.9% |
| 1987 | 5.9% | -17.3% |
| 1988 | 6.2% | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 4.7% | -24.4% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -10.6% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | -65.7% |
| 1992 | -0.8% | -155.6% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -144.2% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +645.4% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +67.4% |
| 1996 | 4.1% | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -88.5% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | +592.8% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | -29.9% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -74.0% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +530.3% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -85.5% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | +436.2% |
| 2004 | 5.1% | +74.1% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +15.7% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -96.6% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | +1323.7% |
| 2010 | 8.1% | +143.7% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -36.5% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | -10.8% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | -16.9% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | +32.2% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -15.2% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 5.6% | +47.2% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -9.5% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | -105.3% |
| 2021 | 7.6% | -2882.8% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -36.0% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | 4.7% | -18.5% |
| 2025 | 4.6% | -0.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 4.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 4.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +2882.8% | -0.3% | 7.6% |
| 2009 | +1323.7% | 0.2% | 3.3% |
| 1994 | +645.4% | 0.4% | 2.6% |
| 1966 | +633.1% | 2.0% | 14.7% |
| 1998 | +592.8% | 0.5% | 3.3% |
| 1971 | +576.3% | -4.7% | 22.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.7% | -7.8% | 14.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 7.2% | -4.7% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.2% | 1.3% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | -0.8% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 0.2% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 3.8% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | -0.3% | 7.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 56 Nicaragua 4.9% compare
- 57 Saint Martin (French part) 4.9% compare
- 58 Macao 4.7% compare
- 60 Sierra Leone 4.6% compare
- 61 Morocco 4.6% compare
- 62 Costa Rica 4.6% compare
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 change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Kenya?
- Annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Kenya was 4.6% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1971.
- What is the lowest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.8% in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions?
- Kenya ranks 59th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.