KIGALI, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's economy expanded by 10 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Rwandan Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
The country's gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices was estimated at 6,346 billion Rwandan francs (4.27 billion U.S. dollars) during the first quarter of 2026, up from 5,276 billion Rwandan francs recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025, the statement said.
The services sector remained the largest contributor to the economy, accounting for 52 percent of GDP. Industry contributed 24 percent, agriculture 19 percent, while net indirect taxes accounted for the remaining 5 percent.
Speaking during the release of the figures in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, on Tuesday, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa said the double-digit growth reflects the momentum built during the third and fourth quarters of 2025, as well as the resilience of Rwanda's economy despite global uncertainties.
"The 10 percent growth in the first quarter underscores the strength of our economic fundamentals. We are particularly encouraged by the strong rebound in export crops and the sustained performance of manufacturing. However, the slow growth of food crops is something we are paying attention to, and the government plans to double efforts to ensure increased output," Murangwa was quoted as saying in the statement.
The agriculture sector grew by 8 percent in the first quarter of 2026, contributing 1.6 percentage points to overall GDP growth, according to the statement.
The industrial sector emerged as the fastest-growing major sector of the economy, expanding by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2026 and contributing 3.1 percentage points to overall GDP growth.
The services sector, which remains the backbone of Rwanda's economy, grew by 7 percent during the first quarter of 2026. ■