External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Rwanda
Rwanda: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -13.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Rwanda, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Rwanda is -13.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and up 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Rwanda peaked at 0.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, -70.4%, in 1994.
Rwanda ranks 144th of 191 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.2% | — |
| 1961 | -0.5% | -369.8% |
| 1962 | -6.1% | +1203.9% |
| 1963 | -9.2% | +50.4% |
| 1964 | -3.2% | -64.7% |
| 1965 | -8.3% | +154.5% |
| 1966 | -12.7% | +53.5% |
| 1967 | -8.0% | -36.9% |
| 1968 | -9.4% | +17.5% |
| 1969 | -9.5% | +1.1% |
| 1970 | -6.8% | -28.2% |
| 1971 | -10.0% | +46.8% |
| 1972 | -11.2% | +11.5% |
| 1973 | -4.6% | -58.7% |
| 1974 | -13.4% | +190.4% |
| 1975 | -12.0% | -10.4% |
| 1976 | -8.7% | -27.1% |
| 1977 | -7.0% | -20.0% |
| 1978 | -13.8% | +96.5% |
| 1979 | -6.4% | -53.3% |
| 1980 | -17.1% | +166.7% |
| 1981 | -16.2% | -5.8% |
| 1982 | -17.3% | +7.1% |
| 1983 | -13.3% | -23.3% |
| 1984 | -11.0% | -17.4% |
| 1985 | -13.0% | +18.8% |
| 1986 | -11.6% | -11.0% |
| 1987 | -15.4% | +32.7% |
| 1988 | -14.4% | -6.6% |
| 1989 | -14.5% | +0.7% |
| 1990 | -11.2% | -22.8% |
| 1991 | -14.2% | +27.4% |
| 1992 | -16.2% | +13.7% |
| 1993 | -19.2% | +18.7% |
| 1994 | -70.4% | +266.9% |
| 1995 | -25.5% | -63.8% |
| 1996 | -25.1% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | -22.7% | -9.3% |
| 1998 | -22.0% | -3.3% |
| 1999 | -20.6% | -6.2% |
| 2000 | -20.8% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | -18.6% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | -19.2% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | -18.1% | -5.7% |
| 2004 | -17.3% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | -17.7% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | -11.4% | -35.4% |
| 2007 | -8.7% | -23.8% |
| 2008 | -15.2% | +75.0% |
| 2009 | -16.2% | +6.7% |
| 2010 | -16.0% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | -14.6% | -9.0% |
| 2012 | -16.7% | +14.7% |
| 2013 | -15.9% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | -16.4% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | -19.0% | +15.9% |
| 2016 | -18.9% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | -12.7% | -32.4% |
| 2018 | -4.7% | -63.0% |
| 2019 | -4.8% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | -7.0% | +45.2% |
| 2021 | -21.2% | +202.6% |
| 2022 | -17.4% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | -19.5% | +12.3% |
| 2024 | -14.8% | -23.8% |
| 2025 | -13.6% | -8.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's -13.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is -11.3%, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's -13.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%, 2.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | -1203.9% | -0.5% | -6.1% |
| 1961 | -369.8% | 0.2% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | -266.9% | -19.2% | -70.4% |
| 2021 | -202.6% | -7.0% | -21.2% |
| 1974 | -190.4% | -4.6% | -13.4% |
| 1980 | -166.7% | -6.4% | -17.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -6.7% | -12.7% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | -9.4% | -13.8% | -4.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | -14.4% | -17.3% | -11.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -24.7% | -70.4% | -11.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | -16.3% | -20.8% | -8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -14.0% | -19.0% | -4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | -15.6% | -21.2% | -7.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 141 Guinea-Bissau -13.1% compare
- 142 Nicaragua -13.3% compare
- 143 Uzbekistan -13.3% compare
- 145 Philippines -13.7% compare
- 146 North Macedonia -13.7% compare
- 147 Central African Republic -14.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Rwanda
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 5.1 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 7.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -78.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 1.51 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -79.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 1.1 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0117 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Rwanda?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Rwanda was -13.6% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -70.4% in 1994.
- How does Rwanda rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Rwanda ranks 144th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.