External balance on goods and services in Rwanda
Rwanda: External balance on goods and services was -2.22 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2.22 billion current US$
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
131st
of 193 countries
All-time high
206,401 current US$
in 1960
All-time low
-2.89 billion current US$
in 2023
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in Rwanda, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Rwanda is -2.22 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 38.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Rwanda peaked at 206,401 current US$ in 1960 and was at its lowest, -2.89 billion current US$, in 2023.
That places Rwanda 131st out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 206,401 current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -571,012 current US$ | -376.7% |
| 1962 | -7.63 million current US$ | +1236.0% |
| 1963 | -11.75 million current US$ | +54.1% |
| 1964 | -4.21 million current US$ | -64.1% |
| 1965 | -12.28 million current US$ | +191.3% |
| 1966 | -15.77 million current US$ | +28.4% |
| 1967 | -12.75 million current US$ | -19.1% |
| 1968 | -16.17 million current US$ | +26.8% |
| 1969 | -17.92 million current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1970 | -14.99 million current US$ | -16.4% |
| 1971 | -22.31 million current US$ | +48.8% |
| 1972 | -27.49 million current US$ | +23.3% |
| 1973 | -13.40 million current US$ | -51.3% |
| 1974 | -41.28 million current US$ | +208.0% |
| 1975 | -68.60 million current US$ | +66.2% |
| 1976 | -55.77 million current US$ | -18.7% |
| 1977 | -52.25 million current US$ | -6.3% |
| 1978 | -124.55 million current US$ | +138.4% |
| 1979 | -71.27 million current US$ | -42.8% |
| 1980 | -215.02 million current US$ | +201.7% |
| 1981 | -227.25 million current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1982 | -243.49 million current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1983 | -196.33 million current US$ | -19.4% |
| 1984 | -173.90 million current US$ | -11.4% |
| 1985 | -223.29 million current US$ | +28.4% |
| 1986 | -225.19 million current US$ | +0.9% |
| 1987 | -331.64 million current US$ | +47.3% |
| 1988 | -344.05 million current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1989 | -347.70 million current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1990 | -284.71 million current US$ | -18.1% |
| 1991 | -271.81 million current US$ | -4.5% |
| 1992 | -327.95 million current US$ | +20.7% |
| 1993 | -378.38 million current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1994 | -530.68 million current US$ | +40.3% |
| 1995 | -329.82 million current US$ | -37.8% |
| 1996 | -346.80 million current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1997 | -421.18 million current US$ | +21.4% |
| 1998 | -437.46 million current US$ | +3.9% |
| 1999 | -445.12 million current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2000 | -430.36 million current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2001 | -365.96 million current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2002 | -377.50 million current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2003 | -387.13 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2004 | -411.86 million current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2005 | -518.24 million current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2006 | -373.38 million current US$ | -28.0% |
| 2007 | -349.21 million current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2008 | -779.01 million current US$ | +123.1% |
| 2009 | -909.76 million current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2010 | -970.62 million current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2011 | -992.83 million current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2012 | -1.26 billion current US$ | +27.4% |
| 2013 | -1.23 billion current US$ | -2.9% |
| 2014 | -1.33 billion current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2015 | -1.60 billion current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2016 | -1.62 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2017 | -1.17 billion current US$ | -28.0% |
| 2018 | -454.70 million current US$ | -61.1% |
| 2019 | -508.27 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2020 | -735.62 million current US$ | +44.7% |
| 2021 | -2.39 billion current US$ | +224.7% |
| 2022 | -2.39 billion current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2023 | -2.89 billion current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2024 | -2.24 billion current US$ | -22.3% |
| 2025 | -2.22 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's -2.22 billion current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is -1.17 billion current US$, 1.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's -2.22 billion current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 4.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | -1236.0% | -571,012 current US$ | -7.63 million current US$ |
| 1961 | -376.7% | 206,401 current US$ | -571,012 current US$ |
| 2021 | -224.7% | -735.62 million current US$ | -2.39 billion current US$ |
| 1974 | -208.0% | -13.40 million current US$ | -41.28 million current US$ |
| 1980 | -201.7% | -71.27 million current US$ | -215.02 million current US$ |
| 1965 | -191.3% | -4.21 million current US$ | -12.28 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -9.89 million current US$ | -17.92 million current US$ | 206,401 current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -49.19 million current US$ | -124.55 million current US$ | -13.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -252.79 million current US$ | -347.70 million current US$ | -173.90 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -377.39 million current US$ | -530.68 million current US$ | -271.81 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -490.24 million current US$ | -909.76 million current US$ | -349.21 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.11 billion current US$ | -1.62 billion current US$ | -454.70 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.14 billion current US$ | -2.89 billion current US$ | -735.62 million current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 13.15 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.9225 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 572.93 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 25.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0379 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 40.19 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -18.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Rwanda?
- External balance on goods and services in Rwanda was -2.22 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 206,401 current US$ in 1960.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.89 billion current US$ in 2023.
- How does Rwanda rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Rwanda ranks 131st out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.