Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.4% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, driven mainly by industry and services, according to the latest NISR data.
Growth driven by industry and services
Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.4% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same quarter a year earlier, according to national accounts published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
At constant 2024 prices, gross domestic product (GDP) reached 7,174 billion Rwandan francs in the second quarter, compared with 5,799 billion francs in the same period in 2025 at current prices, according to NISR data.
Industry recorded the strongest growth among the economy’s three main sectors, expanding by 18% and contributing 3.9 percentage points to overall GDP growth.
Services grew by 7%, contributing 3.7 percentage points, while agriculture expanded by 4%, contributing 1 percentage point.
Industrial activity expands
Within the industrial sector, mining and quarrying grew by 26%, while construction increased by 24%. Manufacturing recorded 10% growth.
Manufacturing growth was supported by a 51% increase in the production of metal products, machinery and equipment. The production of non-metallic mineral products rose by 22%, while textiles and leather products increased by 13%.
Food processing, meanwhile, grew by 2%.
Services remain the largest sector
Although services grew more slowly than industry, they remained the largest contributor to Rwanda’s GDP. The sector accounted for 51% of GDP in the second quarter, compared with 23% for industry and 21% for agriculture. Net indirect taxes accounted for the remaining 5%.
Wholesale and retail trade grew by 18%, while transport services increased by 7%. Information and communication activities recorded growth of 29%.
Financial services grew by 4%, administrative and support activities by 9%, and hotels and restaurants by 5%. Public administration services, however, declined by 3%, while health services fell by 39%.
Agriculture grows as export crops decline
Agriculture grew by 4% in the second quarter. Food crop production increased by 5%, while livestock and forestry each grew by 6%.
Fishing recorded strong growth of 66%. However, the production of export crops declined by 20% during the period.
Higher spending and trade activity
On the expenditure side, final consumption expenditure increased by 9%. Household consumption rose by 13%, while government final consumption expenditure declined by 6%.
Exports of goods and services increased by 19%. Imports, however, grew faster, rising by 36%. Gross capital formation increased by 32%.
The figures point to sustained economic activity during the second quarter, with industry and services making significant contributions to overall growth.
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), GDP National Accounts, Q2 2026.