Kenya Military Spending
Kenya spends an estimated 1.0% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $1.4 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1963–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$1.4 billion
Ranked #76 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.0%
Ranked #128 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $1.4B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$1.7 billion
Reached in 1979
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Kenya run to 2025.
Kenya Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Kenya is estimated to have spent $1.4 billion on military and defense, representing 1.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Kenya is the #76 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $1.4 billion to $1.4 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 5.5% in 1979. The historical average military budget is 1.9% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 1.00% | $1,491M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.00% | $1,423M |
| 2025 | 1.07% | $1,355M |
| 2024 | 1.04% | $1,256M |
| 2023 | 0.98% | $1,142M |
| 2022 | 1.01% | $1,137M |
| 2021 | 1.08% | $1,164M |
| 2020 | 1.11% | $1,132M |
| 2019 | 1.11% | $1,145M |
| 2018 | 1.21% | $1,193M |
| 2017 | 1.24% | $1,162M |
| 2016 | 1.25% | $1,133M |
| 2015 | 1.20% | $1,053M |
| 2014 | 1.20% | $975M |
| 2013 | 1.40% | $1,073M |
| 2012 | 1.49% | $1,087M |
| 2011 | 1.38% | $961M |
| 2010 | 1.37% | $941M |
| 2009 | 1.37% | $887M |
| 2008 | 1.62% | $870M |
| 2007 | 1.55% | $911M |
| 2006 | 1.46% | $814M |
| 2005 | 1.69% | $823M |
| 2004 | 1.61% | $780M |
| 2003 | 1.65% | $791M |
| 2002 | 1.63% | $783M |
| 2001 | 1.50% | $727M |
| 2000 | 1.31% | $632M |
| 1999 | 1.19% | $589M |
| 1998 | 1.22% | $605M |
| 1997 | 1.34% | $642M |
| 1996 | 1.42% | $676M |
| 1995 | 1.65% | $578M |
| 1994 | 1.64% | $504M |
| 1993 | 1.84% | $605M |
| 1992 | 1.90% | $724M |
| 1991 | 2.35% | $968M |
| 1990 | 2.89% | $1,244M |
| 1989 | 2.74% | $1,220M |
| 1988 | 2.95% | $1,314M |
| 1987 | 3.13% | $1,362M |
| 1986 | 2.50% | $1,059M |
| 1985 | 2.38% | $884M |
| 1984 | 3.48% | $1,052M |
| 1983 | 4.20% | $1,278M |
| 1982 | 4.57% | $1,364M |
| 1981 | 4.23% | $1,349M |
| 1980 | 4.52% | $1,391M |
| 1979 | 5.50% | $1,709M |
| 1978 | 5.20% | $1,570M |
| 1977 | 3.74% | $1,213M |
| 1976 | 2.48% | $723M |
| 1975 | 1.88% | $504M |
| 1974 | 1.78% | $504M |
| 1973 | 1.66% | $467M |
| 1972 | 1.54% | $413M |
| 1971 | 1.23% | $325M |
| 1970 | 1.06% | $260M |
| 1969 | 1.08% | $246M |
| 1968 | 1.22% | $255M |
| 1967 | 1.30% | $250M |
| 1966 | 1.13% | $208M |
| 1965 | 0.99% | $165M |
| 1964 | 0.59% | $102M |
| 1963 | 0.21% | $32M |