Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.4 per cent in 2025, with gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices estimated at Rwf23.3 trillion, up from roughly Rwf20 trillion in 2024. The new figures were announced on March 16, by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). According to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa, the strong performance exceeds the initially projected growth of 6-7 per cent. ALSO READ: Rwanda's economy to grow 7.2% in 2026: IMF forecast “Normally when we make projections, we tend to be conservative. We want to be ambitious but realistic, which is why our usual projections are around 6 to 7 per cent. Achieving growth above 7 per cent shows very strong performance,” he said. He added that the results demonstrate the combined impact of government policies and private sector efforts. “Government plays more of a catalytic role. Around 20 per cent of economic activity comes from the government, while about 80 per cent is driven by the private sector,” the minister noted. The growth aligns with Rwanda’s development targets under NST2, which aims for an average economic growth rate of 9.3 per cent, minister said. “We do not want GDP growth for the sake of GDP. We want growth that translates into development. If we sustain growth of around 9.4 per cent over time, we should see strong development going forward,” Murangwa said. In terms of sectoral growth, agriculture grew by 7 per cent, contributing around 20 per cent of GDP. ALSO READ: Economy records double digit growth in third quarter Food crop production rose by 3 per cent, while export crops grew by 32 per cent, driven by a 60 per cent increase in coffee production and an 8 per cent rise in tea production. Other cash crops, including pyrethrum and sugarcane, increased by 4 per cent. The minister stressed that although agriculture accounts for around 20 per cent of Rwanda’s GDP, the sector has been expanding every year. “Its share appears smaller because other sectors are growing faster,” he said, adding that the government aims to increase productivity while gradually reducing the number of people working in agriculture so that the workforce better matches the available land and realistic output levels. The industry sector grew by 11 per cent, led by mining and quarrying, which increased by 17 per cent, construction by 11 per cent, and manufacturing by 10 per cent. In manufacturing, cement production rose by 35 per cent, metal products and machinery grew by 21 per cent, chemicals and plastics increased by 24 per cent, and food processing grew by 9 per cent. Textile production fell slightly by 1 per cent. ALSO READ: Services, industry lead Rwanda’s 7.8 percent GDP growth - statistics body Services grew by 9 per cent and remained the largest contributor to GDP at 52 per cent. Growth was driven by wholesale and retail trade, which rose by 15 per cent, land transport by 11 per cent, information and communication services by 15 per cent, and financial services by 7 per cent. Other services including hotel and restaurant services declined by 2 per cent, health services fell by 13 per cent, public administration grew by 6 per cent, and education increased by 5 per cent. Despite global challenges, including the US–Israel/Iran conflict, Minister Murangwa said the country is better prepared to handle shocks and avoid major disruptions. “Concrete strategies are in place to help traders export their produce and find markets when needed, so a major crisis is unlikely.”
