External health expenditure in Kenya
Kenya: External health expenditure was 20.1% in 2023. ▬ Flat
External health expenditure in Kenya, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, external health expenditure in Kenya stood at 20.1%.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Kenya peaked at 29.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 2000.
That places Kenya 35th out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
External health expenditure in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.9% | — |
| 2001 | 14.3% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 15.8% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | +21.9% |
| 2005 | 18.9% | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +53.3% |
| 2007 | 29.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 29.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 29.6% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 28.8% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 24.3% | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 22.6% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 20.0% | -11.6% |
| 2015 | 17.9% | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 16.2% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 21.1% | +30.1% |
| 2018 | 22.2% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | -16.5% |
| 2020 | 17.2% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 18.5% | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 19.0% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 20.1% | +5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.7% | 13.9% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.8% | 16.2% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 17.2% | 20.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 32 Afghanistan 21.2% compare
- 33 Yemen 21.1% compare
- 34 Burkina Faso 20.9% compare
- 36 Togo 20.0% compare
- 37 Mauritania 19.5% compare
- 38 Palau 18.5% compare
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in Kenya?
- External health expenditure in Kenya was 20.1% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 2000.
- How does Kenya rank for external health expenditure?
- Kenya ranks 35th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from external sources. External sources compose of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country. External sources either flow through the government scheme or are channeled through non-governmental organizations or other schemes.