In 2021, travel and tourism contributed 5.4 billion U.S. dollars to Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The amount increased by nearly 35 percent compared to 2020, when the tourism industry struggled with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the recovery, the value added to the GDP remained below that registered previous to the health crisis.

In 2023, earnings from international arrivals in Kenya amounted to 352.5 billion Kenyan shillings (KSh), around 2.7 billion U.S. dollars. This represented an increase of around 32 percent in comparison to the previous year. In 2020, the number of international visitor arrivals in Kenya declined sharply, and, consequently, the sector’s revenue fell to 89 billion KSh (686 million U.S. dollars). The drop interrupted an up going trend in place since 2015. From that year onward, the country’s tourism industry had recorded an annual growing revenue, after a slowdown due to an upsurge in violent terrorist attacks in 2012. First signs of recovery in 2021 Worldwide, the tourism industry felt the dramatic effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In Kenya, the sector contracted, and its contribution to the country’s GDP roughly halved in 2020, compared to 2019. By the end of 2021, however, signals of recovery amid the tourism industry were already spotted. The monthly number of arrivals in both Jomo Kenyatta and Moi international airports in December that year corresponded to roughly 70 percent of that registered in December 2019. Additionally, as of March 2022, the bed occupancy rate in Kenyan hotels amounted to 57 percent, against 23 percent in March 2021. Tourism: a relevant industry in Kenya’s economy Kenya is extensively known for its rich nature and wildlife. The country is home to Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, and houses seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Lake Turkana national parks and the Lamu Old Town. Unsurprisingly, travel and tourism play a key role in the Kenyan economy. Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry remained a relevant source of employment. As of 2020, tourism engaged roughly 6.4 percent of the total employment in Kenya.

3.2 (billion US dollars) in 2019.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Kenya was worth 108.04 billion US dollars in 2023, according to official data from the World Bank. The GDP value of Kenya represents 0.10 percent of the world economy. This dataset provides - Kenya GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Travel and tourism real direct contribution to GDP of Kenya leapt by 5.94% from 3.0 billion US dollars in 2018 to 3.2 billion US dollars in 2019. Since the 0.57% downward trend in 2016, travel and tourism real direct contribution to GDP jumped by 14.70% in 2019.

Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP of Kenya jumped by 6.43% from 8.0 billion US dollars in 2018 to 8.5 billion US dollars in 2019. Since the 0.96% fall in 2015, contribution of travel and tourism to GDP shot up by 36.41% in 2019. US dollar billion, at current prices and exchange rates.

As of 2023, over 1.9 million international visitors arrived in Kenya. This represents a steady recovery in growth since 2020, when only 567.8 thousand visitors entered the country as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other nations worldwide, Kenya implemented measures to contain the spread of the virus, such as lockdown and flight restrictions. As a result, the passenger flow in the two main Kenyan airports was drastically low between March and July 2020. After flights resumed, the volume of visitors increased, however, they remained under the pre-pandemic level. Signs of recovery post-COVID-19 pandemicIn 2022, earnings from international arrivals in Kenya amounted to 268.1 billion Kenyan shilings (KSh), around 2.1 billion U.S. dollars. This represented an increase of some 83 percent in comparison to the previous year, when the Kenyan tourism sector recorded a revenue of roughly 89 billion KSh (690 million U.S. dollars). The COVID-19 crisis interrupted an upgoing trend in tourism earnings registered in the last years. Since 2015, the sector recorded growing revenue year-by-year, after a slow down started in 2011, as a consequence of an upsurge in violent terrorist attacks. Relevance of tourism in Kenya’s economyHome of Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, Kenya is extensively known for its rich nature and wildlife. Tourism, therefore, plays a key role in the country’s economy. In 2020, the sector contributed 4.2 billion U.S. dollars to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product. By the same year, travel and tourism accounted for 6.4 percent of the total employment. Lastly, international tourists spent 581 million U.S. dollars in Kenya, which was equivalent to six percent of the country’s exports.

In 2018, the average inflation rate in Kenya amounted to about 4.69 percent compared to the previous year, a significant decrease from 7.99 percent the year prior. Forecasts see Kenya’s inflation levelling off at around five percent in the near future.

Kenya sees economic growth

Kenya’s economic growth has been quite steady these past few years and is still on the rise – except for a little dip in 2017, which is no real reason for concern. Gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to almost double by 2024, and unemployment, although still above 10 percent, is on the decline. Although Kenya may not be among the leading countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) yet, but these economic trends plus demographic key factors like a declining infant mortality rate and a life expectancy at birth that has increased by a decade over the same time span show that Kenya is definitely on the way.

A brief look at Kenya’s economy

Kenya’s market-based economy is considered East Africa’s finance and transportation hub. Most of Kenya’s GDP is generated by services, especially travel and tourism, but agriculture is also quite successful, as it contributes about a third to GDP. The country exports less than it imports, and its leading exports are mostly commodities like tea and coffee. Imports include petroleum, machinery, and metals. Subsequently, Kenya’s trade balance is in the red, however, national debt is decreasing.

Seychelles had the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Africa as of 2024. The value amounted to 21.87 thousand U.S. dollars. Mauritius followed with around 13 thousand U.S. dollars, whereas Gabon registered 9.31 thousand U.S. dollars. GDP per capita is calculated by dividing a country’s GDP by its population, meaning that some of the largest economies are not ranked within the leading ten. Impact of COVID-19 on North Africa’s GDP When looking at the GDP growth rate in Africa in 2024, Libya had the largest estimated growth in Northern Africa, a value of 7.8 percent compared to the previous year. Niger and Senegal were at the top of the list with rates of 10.4 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the economy was severe. The growth of the North African real GDP was estimated at minus 1.1 percent in 2020. However, estimations for 2022 looked much brighter, as it was set that the region would see a GDP growth of six percent, compared to four percent in 2021.
Contribution of Tourism Various countries in Africa are dependent on tourism, contributing to the economy. In 2023, travel and tourism were estimated to contribute 182.6 billion U.S. dollars, a clear increase from 96.5 in 2020 following COVID-19. As of 2024, South Africa, Mauritius, and Egypt led tourism in the continent according to the Travel & Tourism Development Index.

5,7 (%) in 2019. The annual percentage change in the 2000 US$ bn series.

Kenya’s Statistical Abstract is the single source of data covering a many areas of Kenya’s Economic, Political, Geographic, Financial and Educational Data. It is a compilation of statistical information from KNBS Censuses and Surveys. Broadly the topics covered in this publication touch on the Constitution, land, climate, population, migration, tourism, national accounts(GDP), External trade, domestic exports, imports, agriculture, forestry, fishing, manufacturing, building, construction, housing, mining engery , electricity, fuel, currency, banking, insurance, stock exchange, transportation and telecommunications, public health, public finance and retail sectors.

Nairobi has been the Kenyan county most affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As of March 31, 2022, the capital registered most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, around 129 thousand. The amount corresponded to nearly 40 percent of the total cases in Kenya. In Kiambu, within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region, 19,778 infected people were registered, whereas Mombasa, Kenya's oldest and second largest city, had 17,794 cases. As of March 2021, Kenya started the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus with doses received through the COVAX initiative.

Kenya's economy rebounds amid vaccination campaign

The coronavirus outbreak had a significant negative impact on Kenya's economy. In the second quarter of 2020, the quarterly country’s GDP decreased by 5.5 percent, the first contraction in recent years. Around one year later, in the third quarter of 2021, Kenya already registered an improved economic performance, with the quarterly GDP growth rate measured at 9.9 percent. The educational sector pushed the result, with an expansion of 65 percent. Mining and quarrying, and accommodation and food services followed, each with a 25 percent growth rate.

Signs of recovery in the tourism sector

Extensively known for its rich nature and wildlife, Kenya felt dramatically the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism industry. The sector's contribution to the country’s GDP roughly halved in 2020, compared to 2019. By the end of 2021, however, signals of recovery were already spotted. The monthly number of arrivals in both Jomo Kenyatta and Moi international airports in December that year corresponded to roughly 70 percent of that registered in December 2019. Additionally, as of March 2022, the bed occupancy rate in Kenyan hotels amounted to 57 percent, against 23 percent in March 2021.