The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) announced that Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2026 reached 6.346 trillion Rwandan francs, up from 5.276 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 10% increase.
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Sector Contributions
Services contributed 52% of GDP, agriculture 19%, industry 24%, and other sectors 5%. Agricultural output rose by 8%, industrial output by 13%, while services grew by 7%.
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Exports and Household Production
Deputy Director General of NISR, Jean Claude Mwizerwa, said exports increased by 39%, driven mainly by coffee exports which rose by 86%, while tea exports declined by 3%. Household food production grew by 3%.
Trade, Transport, and Services
Wholesale and retail trade output increased by 11%, transport by 11% (including 10% growth in land transport and 7% in air transport). ICT services grew by 22%, financial and insurance services by 11%, and education by 3%, while restaurant and hotel services declined by 16%.
Government Perspective
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, noted that Rwanda’s economic momentum from last year continued, with limited impact from the Middle East conflict since most essential imports had already been secured. He recalled that GDP grew by 11.8% in Q3 2025 and 11.2% in Q4 2025, stressing that Rwanda is working to mitigate any future shocks by accelerating projects and facilitating investors.
He added that hotel and restaurant performance is being closely monitored, especially food prices, since rising costs reduce output in that sector.
Confirmation of Growth
Mwizerwa confirmed that Rwanda’s GDP grew by 10% in the first quarter of 2026.
