Export Promotion Council - Economic Overview

Economic Overview

Kenya is the economic hub for trade, investment, and tourism in East Africa.

GDP:

In US$ 32.42 billion (2010)

GDP:

Real growth rate – 4.0% (2010)

GDP:

Agriculture: 22%

Industry: 16%

Services: 62% (2010 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2000 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

9.3% (2009 est.)

Electricity Generation:

5.223 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity Imports:

22.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity consumption:

4.863 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Agriculture and Livestock products:

Horticulture, tea, coffee, fish and fish preparations, animal and vegetable oils

Main export commodities:

Horticulture, tea, textiles, coffee, tobacco and tobacco manufactures, iron and steel products, petroleum products, soda ash, cement, articles of plastics, soda ash, medicinal and pharmaceuticals

Main export partners:

UK 11.31%, Netherlands 9.81%, Uganda 9.07%, Tanzania 8.83%, US 5.93%, Pakistan 5.63% (2009)

Merchandise Exports (fob):

$5.141 billion (2010 est.)

Services Exports:

US$ 2.6 Billion (of which transportation is US$ 0.77, Tourism US$ 0.60)

Merchandise Imports (cif):

$10.4 billion (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

$9.715 billion (2009 est.)

Import commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Import partners:

India 11.67%, China 10.58%, UAE 9.32%, South Africa 8.36%, Saudi Arabia 6.53%, US 6.25%, Japan 5.1% (2009)

Currency:

Kenya Shilling (KES)

Exchange rates:

March 2010
1 US Dollar	Ksh. 80.18
1 Stering Pound	Ksh. 110.08
1 Euro	Ksh. 105.79
More Details – Connect to the CBK website (http://www.centralbank.go.ke/rates/exchangeindex.asp )

Communication

Main telephone line connections:

468,000 (2007)

Mobile telephones:

11.4 million subscribers (2007)

Radio and TV frequencies assigned:

FM - 368, TV - 127 (2007)

Ports and harbours:

Mombasa, Lamu (Marine); Kisumu (Inland)

Key Economic and Social Indicators 1999 – 2007
Item	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Population (mn.)	29.5	30.2	30.8	31.5	32.2	32.8	33.4	36.1	37.2	38.3
Average exchange rate (Ksh vs USD)	70.30	76.20	78.60	78.70	75.93	79.28	75.55	72.1	67.32	67.32
GDP at market prices (KSh.bn.)	743.48	796.34	1,020	1,035	1,138	1,286	1,445	1,642	1,814
Growth of GDP at constant prices (%)	1.4	0.2	4.40;	0.50	2.90	5.10	5.70	6.10	7.0
Trade balance (Ksh. bn.)	-83.8	-113.3	-142.5	-88.4	-98.69	-149.8	-186.5	-270.5	-330.5
Balance of payments (current account)	-6.3	-15.20	-43.80	-9.27	11.10	-10.43	-19.06	-34.5	-74.2
Money Supply (Ksh. bn)	312.1	314.70	322.33	404.79	451.17	511.43	557.75	653.04	777.50
Total domestic credit (Ksh.bn)	371.4	381.3	380.2	410.2	436.5	501.2	529.4	600.0	670.8
Consumer Prices Inflation (%) Average Annual	5.7	10.0	5.7	2	9.8	11.6	10.3	14.5
Wage employment ('000)	1688	1695	1677	1700	1727	1764	1808	1869	1907
Education enrolment ('000)
Primary	6064	6078	5942	6063	7159	7395	7592	7632	8229
Secondary	725	759	763	779	883	923	934	1038	1180
Post Secondary	84	95	137	153	160	179	183	211	223