Kenya Slips Down To Become Africa’s SEVENTH-Largest Economy
Angola has surpassed Kenya to become Africa’s sixth-largest economy, according to the most recent International Monetary Fund data.
According to figures, Kenya’s GDP climbed from USD 140 billion (approximately Ksh18.14 trillion) in January to USD 147.26 billion (about Ksh19.1 trillion).
Despite the gain, Kenya now ranks seventh behind Angola, whose GDP is USD 152.35 billion (about Ksh19.74 trillion).
Kenya surpassed Angola and Ethiopia in December 2025, but Angola has since restored its place.
President William Ruto has regularly used Kenya’s GDP milestones to justify his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Nigeria has the 3rd largest economy in Africa — it also ranks 31st in GDP per capita and 29th in HDI.
— Emeka Ajene ✍🏽 (@eajene) May 18, 2026
Economic size doesn't automatically equal prosperity or widespread human welfare anywhere in the world, and Africa is no different.
This chart shows the continent's 20 largest… pic.twitter.com/Ws71pBmNf5
During his State of the Nation Address, President Ruto noted that Kenya moved from being the 8th largest African economy to the 6th, attributing this rise to strategic reforms and economic discipline.
However, the latest ranking comes amid fresh pressures on the economy, largely driven by fuel prices that have been a bone of contention from various sectors of the economy.
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The ranking from April 2026 shows that South Africa remains the largest economy on the continent, despite the protests that have rocked the country for the better part of a month.
South Africa’s GDP is USD 479.96 billion (Ksh62.2 trillion), nearly three and a half times Kenya’s GDP.
Just behind South Africa is Egypt (USD 429.65 billion), and Nigeria remains third with USD 377.37 billion.
Algeria is fourth (USD 317.17 billion) and Morocco is fifth (USD 194.33 billion).
In East Africa, Kenya leads, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo with a GDP of USD 123.41 billion (Ksh15.99 trillion) and then Ethiopia at USD 121.53 billion (Ksh15.74 trillion).
Tanzania’s GDP has dropped to USD 94.89 (Ksh12.3 trillion) and Uganda USD 73.37 billion (about Ksh9.5 trillion).
Kenya Slips Down To Become Africa’s SEVENTH-Largest Economy
