Rwanda’s economy expanded sharply in the third quarter of 2025, with gross domestic product (GDP) rising to Rwf5,525 billion from Rwf4,659 billion in the same period a year earlier, marking year-on-year growth of 11.8 per cent. The double-digit expansion builds on growth of 7.8 per cent in the second quarter and 6.5 per cent in the first quarter, according to data released on December 16 by the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s economy up by 7.8% in Q2 2025 as base year changes In terms of contribution to GDP, the services sector accounted for 57 per cent, industry 22 per cent, agriculture 15 per cent, and net direct taxes 6 per cent. Within the industry sector, mining and quarrying rose 14 per cent, construction increased by 20 per cent, and manufacturing went up 14 per cent. Growth in manufacturing was led by non-metal products, mainly cement, which rose 44 per cent, metal products up 28 per cent, chemical products such as paints and soaps up 25 per cent, and food processing up 12 per cent. Ivan Murenzi, the Director General of NISR, said that the growth in industry is closely tied to construction activities. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s GDP grew by 7.8% in Q1 2025 “Construction activities continue to expand in the country, and they are linked to other industries, such as cement and other building materials. This is positive for the country’s economy, as growth across these sectors supports overall industrial development,” he said. “Moreover, as cement production rises, the associated growth in manufacturing related to construction will also continue to increase,” he added. The agriculture sector grew by 10 per cent, driven by a 35 per cent increase in export crops, including a 32 per cent rise in coffee production and a 100 per cent growth in tea harvests. Food crop production also rebounded by 4 per cent, following a 10 per cent decline in the same quarter of 2024. For the services sector, wholesale and retail trade grew 20 per cent, transport services increased 9 per cent, information and communication rose 17 per cent, and financial services went up 10 per cent. However, hotels and restaurants declined 3 per cent, health services fell 16 per cent, while public administration rose 7 per cent and education services increased by 5 per cent. Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, clarified that reported output growth is assessed in comparison with prior performance. A negative growth rate does not imply an overall contraction of the sector, he explained, rather, it indicates that output did not exceed the previous period’s level of growth. Similarly, a zero per cent growth rate reflects stagnation, not a decline in output.
