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
Latest (2025)
-13.6%
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
144th
of 191 countries
All-time high
0.2%
in 1960
All-time low
-70.4%
in 1994
Years of data
66
1960–2025
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% |
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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 19.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 919.67 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 1.03 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 10.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5446 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 611.94 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 7.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7944 current US$ 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.