World Finance Atlas
187 economies · 2025–26
Atlas · Africa · KEN

Kenya

Capital NairobiCurrency KES · Kenyan ShillingRegion Africa
Output · rank 64/187
$132B
People · rank 26/187
57.5M
Land · rank 46/187
569K km²
GDP per person
$2,296
Density
101.0 /km²

Government debt

70.1%gross debt, share of GDP
$93Boutstanding, rank 59 of 178
Perimeter
General government
Basis
Gross, not net
Valuation
Nominal
Debt per person
$1,609
Net of assets
not published
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.

Private-sector debt

The BIS publishes household and corporate credit for 44 economies. Kenya is not among them, so no comparable private-debt figure exists.
This is a gap in global data coverage, not a value of zero.

Currency & monetary policy

Currency
KES
Regime
not classified
Central bank
Central Bank of Kenya
Central Bank Rate
9.75%
Issues its own currency and sets its own policy rate — meaningful room to manage local-currency debt.

Payment rails

SystemTypeLive since
PesaLinkInstant retail2017
KEPSSLarge-value RTGS2005

Against its region and the world

Where Kenya sits relative to the Africa average and the world average.

GDP per person (USD)
This country2,296
Region average1,882
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country101
Region average53
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country70
Region average66
World average95

Major banks

Largest institutions headquartered in Kenya, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.

All banks →
InstitutionHeadquartersTotal assetsvs. national GDP
1Equity GroupNairobi$13B10%

All figures

Nominal GDP
$132B
Share of world output
0.11%
Population
57.5M
Share of world population
0.70%
Land area
569,140 km²
Share of world land
0.44%
GDP per person
$2,296
GDP per km²
$231,929
Population density
101.0 /km²
Government debt
70.1%
Debt outstanding
$93B

Closest by output in Africa

Angola$121B63.8%
Ethiopia$145B35.4%
Morocco$165B68.9%
Ivory Coast$95B58.1%
Tanzania$90B47.3%

Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.

Where these figures come from

Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate
PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate
Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
UN Statistics Division
2024
General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking
Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
IMF AREAER
2025
Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live
Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter