Central government spending as share of GDP in Rwanda
Rwanda: Central government spending as share of GDP was 18.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Rwanda, 1990–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, central government spending as share of gdp in Rwanda stood at 18.0%.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Rwanda peaked at 20.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 1991.
Rwanda ranks 119th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.7% | — |
| 1991 | 12.5% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 15.0% | +19.9% |
| 2014 | 17.7% | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 17.1% | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 18.7% | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 18.9% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 18.7% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 19.0% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 20.9% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 20.0% | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 18.0% | -5.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 18.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 12.4%, 1.5× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 18.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.4% | 12.5% | 15.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 18.3% | 17.1% | 19.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 19.4% | 18.0% | 20.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 116 Paraguay 18.9% compare
- 117 Dominican Republic 18.1% compare
- 118 Sri Lanka 18.0% compare
- 120 Cote d'Ivoire 17.9% compare
- 121 Saint Lucia 17.6% compare
- 122 Kazakhstan 17.4% 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)
- 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 central government spending as share of gdp in Rwanda?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Rwanda was 18.0% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 1991.
- How does Rwanda rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Rwanda ranks 119th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.