Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Kenya
Kenya: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) was 4,679 millions in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
4,679 millions
Change on year
up 6.9%
World rank
58th
of 174 countries
All-time high
4,679 millions
in 2018
All-time low
448.62 millions
in 1971
Years of data
37
1971–2018
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in Kenya, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Kenya is 4,679 millions, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Kenya peaked at 4,679 millions in 2018 and was at its lowest, 448.62 millions, in 1971.
That places Kenya 58th out of 174 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 448.62 millions | — |
| 1972 | 624.31 millions | +39.2% |
| 1973 | 759.4 millions | +21.6% |
| 1974 | 875.95 millions | +15.3% |
| 1975 | 1,009 millions | +15.2% |
| 1976 | 1,043 millions | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 952.54 millions | -8.7% |
| 1980 | 1,258 millions | +32.1% |
| 1981 | 1,461 millions | +16.1% |
| 1982 | 1,453 millions | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 1,413 millions | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 1,206 millions | -14.7% |
| 1985 | 1,392 millions | +15.5% |
| 1986 | 1,680 millions | +20.6% |
| 1988 | 2,093 millions | +24.6% |
| 1989 | 2,033 millions | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 2,414 millions | +18.7% |
| 1992 | 2,264 millions | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 2,229 millions | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 2,198 millions | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 2,287 millions | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 2,280 millions | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 2,302 millions | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 2,832 millions | +23.0% |
| 2003 | 2,997 millions | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 3,228 millions | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 3,662 millions | +13.4% |
| 2006 | 3,727 millions | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 2,999 millions | -19.5% |
| 2011 | 3,163 millions | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 3,489 millions | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 3,578 millions | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 3,622 millions | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 3,825 millions | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 4,144 millions | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 4,378 millions | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 4,679 millions | +6.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 4,679 millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 806.8 millions, 5.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 4,679 millions is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 524.58 millions, 8.9× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 816.06 millions | 448.62 millions | 1,043 millions | 7 |
| 1980s | 1,554 millions | 1,206 millions | 2,093 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 2,278 millions | 2,198 millions | 2,414 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 3,004 millions | 2,280 millions | 3,727 millions | 7 |
| 2010s | 3,764 millions | 2,999 millions | 4,679 millions | 9 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.57 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 94.27 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Kenya?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Kenya was 4,679 millions in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 4,679 millions in 2018.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 448.62 millions in 1971.
- How does Kenya rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- Kenya ranks 58th out of 174 countries with data for 2018.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant us$ rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release