Rwanda’s economic growth slowed to 3.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020, compared to 6.1% in same period last year, and 8.4% in the last quarter of 2019. That was the slowest pace of growth since the second quarter of 2017, occasioned by effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Reuters reports that among the sectors whose performance deteriorated during the period include agriculture, industry, and service.
The sectors’ growths were as follows:
SECTOR
Q1 2020
Q4 2019
Services
6%
8%
Transportation
No growth
12%
Hotels & restaurants
3%
12%
Financial services
-5%
13%
Professional, scientific & technical activities
-1%
9%
Cultural, domestic & other services
-1%
5%
Industry
2%
14%
Mining & quarrying
-26%
-12%
Manufacturing
6%
9%
Construction
5%
33%
Agricultural activity
-1%
5%
Production of export crops
-16%
-4%
Food crops
-2%
4%
Sectors Contributing to Rwanda GDP
On a quarterly basis, the Rwanda GDP contracted 4.2%, following an upwardly revised 1.1% growth in the previous quarter.
Rwanda GDP
At the beginning of this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected trade and private investment to boost Rwanda’s GDP by 8%.
In the past, Rwanda has recorded impressive economic growth. Improved performance in construction, manufacturing, and its service industry saw Rwanda’s GDP grow by 11.9% in 2018 Q3. The government and IMF estimated its 2019 growth at 8.5%. Reuters notes that the country recorded a double-digit growth of 12.2% in 2019 Q2.