Kenya’s public external debt service in dollars and relative to exports

The figure measures annual payments

The World Bank counts principal and interest actually paid on long-term obligations of public borrowers and publicly guaranteed private borrowers. That yields an annual payment flow. An outstanding debt series would measure a balance on a specified date. Source 1 Source 3

The highest dollar year and highest ratio year differ

In this 11-year window, the dollar amount was highest in 2024 at USD 5.29 billion. The ratio peaked in 2019 at 34.06%, when payments were about USD 3.98 billion. The ratio’s denominator is exports of goods, services and primary income. Source 1 Source 2

The denominator changes the comparison

A higher dollar payment can account for a smaller share of export income if export income grows enough. The ratio compares payments with that specified income measure. Other ratios can use government revenue or GDP and would answer a different question. Source 2 Source 1

Keep the currency basis and period consistent

The dollar series is in current U.S. dollars and the chart reports millions. The percentage series uses the World Bank’s published ratio. Each point refers to a calendar year, and the table shows the same years for both measures. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Sources

• World Bank Kenya external debt service records
• World Bank Kenya public external debt service relative to export income
• World Bank indicator definition for public and publicly guaranteed debt service