Rwanda: Industry surges by 18%, GDP grows by 9.4%

Rwanda’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 9.4% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to national accounts published on September 15 by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.

At current prices, GDP reached 7,174 billion Rwandan francs, up from 5,799 billion a year earlier. The services sector accounted for 51% of economic activity, followed by industry at 23% and agriculture at 21%.

The industrial sector recorded the highest growth, with an 18% increase contributing 3.9 percentage points to GDP growth. Mining and quarrying rose by 26%, construction by 24%, and manufacturing activities by 10%.

In manufacturing, the production of metal products, machinery, and equipment grew by 51%. Non-metallic mineral products increased by 22%, while textiles and leather saw a 13% rise.

The services sector grew by 7%, contributing 3.7 percentage points to overall growth. Wholesale and retail trade increased by 18%, and information and communication services surged by 29%. Agriculture advanced by 4%, despite a 20% decline in export crops.

On the demand side, final household consumption rose by 13%. Exports of goods and services increased by 19%, imports by 36%, and gross capital formation by 32% in the second quarter.