Kenya Interest Payments to Revenue
Interest payments as % of revenue GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS
Kenya's interest payments to revenue was 25.88% in 2025, ranked 6th globally. This represents a 6.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2014–2025.
Overview
Kenya's interest payments to revenue stood at 25.88% in 2025, a rise of +1.60pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 25.88% by 2025. Kenya ranked 6th globally.
Kenya’s interest payments as a share of revenue have risen sharply over the eleven‑year series, climbing from 11.01 % in 2014 to a peak of 25.88 % in 2025, which places the country sixth globally for the latest year. The more than doubling of the ratio reflects a combination of expanding public debt and relatively modest revenue growth, a pattern echoed in other emerging economies such as Uganda, where interest payments account for 25.15 % of revenue, and the Bahamas, with a comparable 25.78 %. While Kenya’s fiscal burden from debt service remains lower than that of Brazil (32.37 %) and India (36.24 %), the rapid upward trajectory raises concerns about fiscal sustainability and limits fiscal space for development spending. Continued debt accumulation or higher borrowing costs could accelerate the trend, whereas a disciplined revenue‑raising strategy and debt‑restructuring measures would be required to reverse the upward path and stabilize the ratio.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Payments to Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 26.76% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 25.88% | - | - |
| 2025 | 25.88% | +1.60pp | #6 |
| 2023 | 24.28% | +2.48pp | #95 |
| 2022 | 21.79% | −1.62pp | #107 |
| 2021 | 23.41% | +0.48pp | #120 |
| 2020 | 22.93% | +3.65pp | #128 |
| 2019 | 19.28% | +0.90pp | #125 |
| 2018 | 18.38% | +5.14pp | #124 |
| 2017 | 13.24% | −1.52pp | #122 |
| 2016 | 14.77% | +2.42pp | #126 |
| 2015 | 12.35% | +1.34pp | #121 |
| 2014 | 11.01% | – | #113 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kenya matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw interest payments to revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenya's interest payments to revenue was 25.88% in 2025. Ranked 6th globally. This represents a 6.6% increase from the previous year.
Kenya's interest payments to revenue peaked at 25.88% in 2025.
The lowest interest payments to revenue in Kenya was 11.01% in 2014.
Kenya ranks 6th globally in interest payments to revenue as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.INTP.RV.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kenya's interest payments to revenue is projected to reach 25.88% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The interest payments to revenue of Kenya in 2025 was 25.88%. This ranks 6th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kenya_interest-to-revenue,
title = {Kenya Interest Payments to Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kenya/interest-to-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}