PM Ngirente promises greater progress as Rwanda cuts poverty by 12.4%

Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Wednesday, April 16 lauded Rwanda’s poverty alleviation achievements in the last seven years, attributing the success to strategic government investments and robust social protection systems. ALSO READ: 1.5 million Rwandans out of poverty in seven years The country recorded a 12.4 per cent decline in overall poverty levels over the past seven years, to 27.4 per cent in 2024 from 39.8 per cent in 2017, with more than 1.5 million citizens lifted out of poverty, according to the seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV 7) report published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). As noted, the survey conducted from October 2023 to October 2024 involved 15,066 households across all districts and provides evidence of significant progress in Rwanda’s socio-economic development. The report indicates that extreme poverty rate decreased from 11.3 per cent in 2017 to 5.4 per cent in 2024 – meaning that it was more than halved in the last seven years. As Rwanda eyes even greater progress, Ngirente reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to building a future where every citizen benefits from sustained economic growth. While officially launching the survey report, Ngirente said that its findings represent “a reflection on how far we have come, a recognition of the milestones we have achieved, and a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to a brighter future.” “The numbers from this report are more than just statistics. They represent real improvements in the lives of our people. Data were collected according to international standards, in collaboration with our partners, to ensure their accuracy and reliability,” he said. The achievements, he said, were realised over the seven years of implementing the first phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) and were driven mainly by strategic investments made by the government and its partners over the last seven years. ALSO READ: 65% Rwandan rural households access electricity – survey Much as the country has seen these good achievements, Ngirente said “we are mindful that we still have a lot to do in our journey to become a poverty-free Rwanda.” “In this regard, we must continue ensuring sustained investment in education and skills development, in order to meet the skills required on the labour market in the future,” he said. The survey report’s launch comes at a critical time, Ngirente stated, adding that its findings will contribute to the country’s ongoing efforts in implementing the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) – running from 2024/2025 through 2028/2029 and Rwanda’s ambitious Vision 2050. “Equally important, the survey's findings will be important in monitoring our progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other interventions at both global and continental levels,” he said. “Rwanda will continue building policies based on evidence, focused on results, and aimed at improving lives across the country.”

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PM Ngirente promises greater progress as Rwanda cuts poverty by 12.4%