Economy
Economy – overview: Kenya is well placed to serve as an engine of growth in East Africa, but its economy has been stagnating because of poor management and uneven commitment to reform.
In 1993, the government of Kenya implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform that included the removal of import licensing, price controls, and foreign exchange controls. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, the reforms led to a brief turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996 and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed after 1997, averaging only 1.5% in 1997-2000. In 1997, political violence damaged the tourist industry, and Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program lapsed due to the government's failure to maintain reform or address public sector corruption. Severe drought in 1999 and 2000 caused water and energy rationing and reduced agricultural sector productivity. A new economic team was put in place in 1999 to revitalize the reform effort, strengthen the civil service, and curb corruption. The IMF and World Bank renewed their support to Kenya in mid-2000, but a number of setbacks to the economic reform program in late 2000 have renewed donor and private sector concern about the government's commitment to sound governance. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, inefficient government dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and high population growth.
GDP: Purchasing power parity - $45.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: 0.4 (2000 est.)
GDP – per capital: Purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2000 est.)
GDP – composition by sector: agriculture: 25%
Industry: 13%
Services: 62% 1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1992 est.)
Household income or
consumption by percentage
share: Lowest 10%: 1.8%
Highest 10%: 34.9% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 9.2 million (1998 est.)
Labor force – by occupation: agriculture 75% - 80%
Unemployment rate: 50% (1998 est.)
Budget: Revenues: $2.91 billion
Expenditures: $2.97 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism.
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 4.225 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: Electricity - production by source: other: 2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31%
hydro: 67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 4.075 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 146 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products, fish, cement
Exports - partners: Uganda 18%, UK 15%, Tanzania 12%, Pakistan 8% (1999)
Imports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, iron and steel
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, iron and steel: UK 12%, UAE 8%, Japan 8%, US 7% (1999)
Debt - external: $6.2 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient: $457 million (1997)
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)
Currency code: KES
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 78.733 (December 2000), 76.176 (2000), 70.326 (1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
People
Population: 30,765,916
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.95% (male 6,524,776; female 6,381,192)
15-64 years: 55.26% (male 8,529,842; female 8,471,609)
65 years and over: 2.79% (male 376,151; female 482,346) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.27% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 28.5 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 14.35 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 1999 Kenya was host to 223,700 refugees from neighboring countries, including
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 67.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.49 years
male: 46.57 years
female: 48.44 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rat13.95% (1999 est.)e:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2.1 million (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 180,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely
Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.1%
male: 86.3%
female: 70% (1995 est.)
Tourist Attractions/ Places of Interest
Accra and Environs
The National Museum: (Barnes Road, Accra), here you will find the History of Ghana told in a collection of ancient relics, documents and pictures.
Th 31st December Makola Market: (The Kojo Thompson Road, Accra). The most interesting and picturesque modern open market, where the visitor will admire the business acumen of the Ghanaian women traders.
The Centre for National Culture: (High Street, Accra). The main centre for cultural activity in Accra.
The Du Bois Centre (House No. 22, 1st Circular Road, Cantonment, Accra.) An important venue for all people of the Pan African World.
The University of Ghana, Legon: (14 Kilometres North of Accra). A showpiece of Japanese architecture in a tropical setting.
Labadi Pleasure Beach: A three kilometre sea frontage at Labadi, 8 kilometres east of Accra on the Accra Tema Beach Road. It serves as Accra's main public beach with only shower and changing room facilities and catering services.
Kokrobite near 30 kilometres west of Accra. A sprawling beach with a dramatic backdrop of hills. It is a favourite of tourists because of its serene atmosphere and its almost secluded nature.
Ada Beach: This coastal town, 100 kilometres east of Accra, on the Lome Road has this beach with facilities for yatching, skiing, fishing, etc.
The Eastern Region
Aburi Botanical Gardens (40 kilometers north of Accra.) A century old botanical garden built for pleasure and for scientific research. It also serves as a sanatorium for recuperating patients due to the cool and soothing temperatures up the Akwapem Ridge. Aburi Botanical Gardens have a number of chalets for visitors who want to stay there.
The Akosombo Dam and cruise on the Volta Lake.
Dodo Islands: Offers the visitor contact with rural life at its best.
Boti Falls: Located in the Kaoga District at Boti near Huhunya and close to the regional capital, Koforidua. This little waterfall in a forest provides opportunity for nature lovers to see an undisturbed forest environment.
Akonedi Shrine, Larte 56 kilometres north of Accra on the Akwapem Ridge where visitors are welcome to traditional religious performance.
The Central and Western Regions
One of Ghana's major tourist products are relics of forts and castles built by European empires some five hundred year ago, representing historical links between Africa and blacks in the Americas, who are in search of their roots in Africa and European countries and they regard their former colonial stronghold as cultural footings for friendly contact with Africa.
The Cape Coast Castle: 144 kilometres west of Accra, built by the Swedish in 1653. It now houses the WEST AFRICAN MUSEUM of History.
Elimina Castle: 153 kilometres west of Accra. The first European built edifice in tropical Africa by the Portuguese in 1482.
Nkroful: 40 kilometres west of Takoradi. The birthplace of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana. At his mausoleum the preserved body of the President can by viewed on request.
Nzulezo - The Village on Water: 90 Kilometres west of Takoradi and 5 km north of Benyin. Normal life of the inhabitants is led on this lake.
