Kenya Reserves in Months of Imports
Total reserves in months of imports FI.RES.TOTL.MO
Kenya's reserves in months of imports was 3.0 in 2025, ranked 91st globally. This represents a 25.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1975–2025.
Overview
Kenya's reserves in months of imports stood at 3.0 in 2025, a decline of +1.0 from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.0 by 2025. Kenya ranked 91st globally.
Kenya’s reserves of import cover stood at 2.99 months in 2025, placing the country 91st in the world and only slightly below peers such as San Marino (3.04 months) and Singapore (3.12 months). Over the 51‑year series, the metric rose from a low of 1.63 months in 1975 to an all‑time peak of 5.24 months in 2016, before falling to a trough of 0.38 months in 1992. The post‑peak decline reflects periods of external debt stress and currency depreciation that eroded foreign‑exchange buffers, while the recent modest recovery suggests improved fiscal discipline and higher export earnings. Nevertheless, Kenya’s current coverage remains under the three‑month threshold often regarded as a minimum safety net for import‑dependent economies. Strengthening export diversification, attracting stable foreign direct investment and maintaining prudent monetary policy could elevate reserves further, supporting a more resilient trajectory in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Reserves in Months of Imports | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 2.3 | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.7 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.0 | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.0 | −1.0 | #91 |
| 2024 | 4.0 | +0.9 | #70 |
| 2023 | 3.1 | −0.1 | #99 |
| 2022 | 3.2 | −1.2 | #100 |
| 2021 | 4.4 | −0.6 | #96 |
| 2020 | 5.0 | +0.1 | #96 |
| 2019 | 4.9 | +0.4 | #65 |
| 2018 | 4.5 | +0.3 | #68 |
| 2017 | 4.2 | −1.0 | #83 |
| 2016 | 5.2 | +0.4 | #66 |
| 2015 | 4.9 | +0.5 | #61 |
| 2014 | 4.4 | +0.2 | #69 |
| 2013 | 4.1 | +0.4 | #79 |
| 2012 | 3.7 | +0.6 | #90 |
| 2011 | 3.1 | −0.7 | #110 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kenya matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw reserves in months of imports improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenya's reserves in months of imports was 3.0 in 2025. Ranked 91st globally. This represents a 25.7% decrease from the previous year.
Kenya's reserves in months of imports peaked at 5.2 in 2016.
The lowest reserves in months of imports in Kenya was 0.4 in 1992.
Kenya ranks 91st globally in reserves in months of imports as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is FI.RES.TOTL.MO. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kenya's reserves in months of imports is projected to reach 3.0 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The reserves in months of imports of Kenya in 2025 was 3.0. This ranks 91st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kenya_reserves-months-imports,
title = {Kenya Reserves in Months of Imports},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kenya/reserves-months-imports/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}