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Economy of Rwanda vs Sao Tome and Principe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Rwanda has a GDP of $16.4B compared to $981M for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 142/197 and 189/197 by economy size, respectively.

Rwanda has $10.6B in government debt (64.6% of GDP), compared to $546M (55.7% of GDP) in Sao Tome and Principe.

Rwanda vs Sao Tome and Principe GDP by year

Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Rwanda Sao Tome
2025 $16,372,132,990 $981,293,587
2024 $15,111,064,182 $824,992,558
2023 $14,806,501,437 $690,456,807
2022 $13,747,404,814 $540,809,499
2021 $11,252,894,910 $524,402,456
2020 $10,487,146,253 $471,229,485
2019 $10,519,272,170 $412,976,083
2018 $9,650,161,136 $383,717,328
2017 $9,164,345,443 $322,002,845
2016 $8,596,812,241 $292,267,272
2015 $8,447,064,079 $259,999,643
2014 $8,129,984,484 $293,119,143
2013 $7,714,276,920 $267,041,748
2012 $7,556,673,276 $229,371,348
2011 $6,802,676,034 $226,455,001
2010 $6,052,276,078 $190,021,192
2009 $5,603,399,015 $200,668,065
2008 $5,120,655,375 $188,021,165
2007 $4,017,977,507 $149,146,919
2006 $3,274,207,945 $142,775,104
2005 $2,933,819,766 $136,450,662
2004 $2,376,496,067 $114,582,284
2003 $2,138,237,279 $102,085,769
2002 $1,966,003,468 $85,171,074
2001 $1,966,600,715 $75,951,133
2000 $2,068,836,754 $76,198,395
1999 $2,157,108,263 $77,302,212
1998 $1,989,343,546 $72,285,404
1997 $1,851,558,197 $91,920,274
1996 $1,382,334,879 $135,188,166
1995 $1,293,535,193 $103,695,237
1994 $753,636,370 $131,338,415
1993 $1,971,525,712 $125,742,229
1992 $2,029,026,962 $94,861,781
1991 $1,911,600,237 $107,484,143
1990 $2,550,185,679 $119,297,933
1989 $2,405,022,593 $98,545,367
1988 $2,395,492,687 $99,000,764
1987 $2,157,432,668 $115,952,925
1986 $1,944,710,684 $115,928,907
1985 $1,715,626,331 $82,733,069
1984 $1,587,413,084 $78,213,796
1983 $1,479,687,587 $75,110,289
1982 $1,407,243,139 $80,307,763
1981 $1,407,062,527 $83,499,264
1980 $1,254,765,642 $81,662,231
1979 $1,109,346,131 $65,755,928
1978 $905,709,076 $55,044,563
1977 $746,650,613 $49,207,692
1976 $637,753,853 $52,039,421
1975 $571,863,500 $60,101,710
1974 $308,458,423 $57,817,591
1973 $290,746,157 $56,011,245
1972 $246,457,838 $41,430,257
1971 $222,952,504 $37,288,845
1970 $219,900,006 $37,211,826
1969 $188,700,037 -
1968 $172,200,018 -
1967 $159,560,018 -
1966 $124,525,703 -
1965 $148,799,980 -
1964 $129,999,994 -
1963 $128,000,000 -
1962 $125,000,008 -
1961 $122,000,016 -
1960 $119,000,024 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

GDP per capita in Rwanda vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Rwanda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sao Tome and Principe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Rwanda Sao Tome
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,124 - $4,084 -
2024 $1,060 $3,711 $3,503 $6,242
2023 $1,061 $3,399 $2,991 $6,150
2022 $1,007 $3,099 $2,390 $6,034
2021 $843 $2,733 $2,363 $5,733
2020 $803 $2,285 $2,167 $5,145
2019 $823 $2,336 $1,935 $4,655
2018 $773 $2,125 $1,826 $3,941
2017 $751 $1,968 $1,556 $3,436
2016 $721 $1,866 $1,435 $3,320
2015 $726 $1,781 $1,298 $3,172
2014 $715 $1,678 $1,490 $3,233
2013 $695 $1,512 $1,383 $2,946
2012 $698 $1,455 $1,211 $2,653
2011 $643 $1,413 $1,220 $2,914
2010 $587 $1,314 $1,045 $2,859
2009 $557 $1,241 $1,128 $2,846
2008 $522 $1,191 $1,082 $2,802
2007 $421 $1,079 $879 $2,650
2006 $352 $1,002 $862 $2,551
2005 $324 $914 $844 $2,329
2004 $269.5 $832 $727 $2,171
2003 $249 $775 $664 $2,094
2002 $234 $760 $568 $1,945
2001 $237.3 $670 $519 $1,898
2000 $251.9 $609 $529 $1,830
1999 $264.7 $554 $543 $1,802
1998 $246.2 $528 $514 $1,754
1997 $238.7 $500 $662 $1,714
1996 $206 $499 $987 $1,693
1995 $228 $514 $769 $1,663
1994 $111 $311 $990 $1,623
1993 $247 $521 $964 $1,581
1992 $264.1 $575 $740 $1,556
1991 $254 $542 $855 $1,540
1990 $346 $549 $970 $1,504
1989 $335 - $821 -
1988 $344 - $847 -
1987 $320 - $1,018 -
1986 $297.7 - $1,043 -
1985 $271.6 - $761 -
1984 $259.9 - $735 -
1983 $250.6 - $720 -
1982 $246.4 - $783 -
1981 $254.6 - $830 -
1980 $234.4 - $829 -
1979 $213.8 - $683 -
1978 $179.9 - $587 -
1977 $152.7 - $539 -
1976 $134.4 - $585 -
1975 $124.1 - $693 -
1974 $68.9 - $683 -
1973 $66.9 - $676 -
1972 $58.4 - $511 -
1971 $54.4 - $470 -
1970 $55.2 - $479 -
1969 $48.9 - - -
1968 $46 - - -
1967 $44 - - -
1966 $35.4 - - -
1965 $43.5 - - -
1964 $39 - - -
1963 $39.3 - - -
1962 $39.2 - - -
1961 $39.3 - - -
1960 $39.4 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Rwanda's GDP per capita is $1,124, ranking 178/197, compared to $4,084 in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 132/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Rwanda ranks 168th at $3,711, while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 151st at $6,242.

Economic indicators

Rwanda Sao Tome
Gross domestic product
$16.4B
2025
$981M
2025
GDP rank
142/197
2025
189/197
2025
GDP growth
9.38%
2024-2025
1.03%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$1,124
2025
$4,084
2025
GDP per capita rank
178/197
2025
132/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,711
2024
$6,242
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
168/197
2024
151/197
2024
Government debt
$10.6B
2025
$546M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
64.6%
2025
55.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$726
2025
$2,275
2025
Government debt per person rank
155/185
2025
115/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,614
2026
$3,249
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.2B
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
33.4%
2023
32.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2023
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.1%
2025
21.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
5.91%
2024-2025
0.9%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
6.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.36%
2025
6.66%
2017
Population
15062056
247495

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Rwanda
Spending

Debt
Sao Tome and Principe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Rwanda Sao Tome
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 24.1% 64.6% 21.2% 55.7%
2024 27.1% 63.4% 23.8% 65.2%
2023 26.2% 61.4% 23.9% 73.2%
2022 28.7% 59% 27.7% 86.8%
2021 31% 66.2% 25.6% 85.1%
2020 32.5% 66.7% 23.2% 91%
2019 27.7% 52.8% 22.8% 98.6%
2018 26.3% 49.2% 28% 95.9%
2017 25.3% 46.1% 31.9% 92.3%
2016 25.4% 41.5% 38.3% 104.6%
2015 26.9% 33.5% 41.6% 101.1%
2014 27.8% 29.5% 36% 92.5%
2013 26.5% 27% 35.5% 76.8%
2012 24.9% 19.3% 50.5% 59.6%
2011 25% 18.9% 53.4% 86%
2010 24.1% 19% 51.7% 83%
2009 22.6% 18.7% 48.6% 70.3%
2008 22.7% 18.5% 30.4% 60.7%
2007 22.7% 22.4% 38.9% 110.1%
2006 20.9% 22.8% 32.5% 283.2%
2005 20.2% 59.8% 43.7% 334%
2004 18.1% 82.1% 60.6% 354%
2003 18.8% 80.7% 51.9% 329%
2002 20.7% 93.4% 44.3% 367%
2001 19.3% 85.2% 52.8% 418%
2000 18.5% 87.2% 10.7% -
1999 22.7% 79.5% - -
1998 16.6% 71.1% - -
1997 17.2% 73.3% - -
1996 19.8% 84.6% - -
1995 18.3% 102.2% - -
1994 13.5% - - -
1993 20.6% - - -
1992 21.8% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, Rwanda's government spending was $3.95B, accounting for 24.1% of its GDP, while Sao Tome and Principe spent $208M, or 21.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 64.6% in Rwanda and 55.7% in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 68/185 and 88/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Rwanda Sao Tome
2025 -4.49% -2.53%
2024 -6.19% 0.92%
2023 -4.88% -2.13%
2022 -5.56% -2.24%
2021 -6.89% -1.52%
2020 -9.26% 2.94%
2019 -5% -0.07%
2018 -2.57% -2.02%
2017 -2.54% -3.11%
2016 -2.3% -5.01%
2015 -2.71% -7.6%
2014 -3.97% -6.27%
2013 -1.29% 2.13%
2012 -2.41% -12.3%
2011 -0.87% -13%
2010 -0.65% -12.1%
2009 0.26% -18%
2008 0.84% 13.6%
2007 -1.58% 125.1%
2006 -0.03% 18%
2005 1.14% 26.8%
2004 2.31% -25.1%
2003 -1.25% -15.9%
2002 -2.06% -10.4%
2001 -1.83% -13.5%
2000 -0.22% 51.5%
1999 -4.48% -
1998 -2.63% -
1997 -2.25% -
1996 -5.08% -
1995 -2.07% -
1994 -9.68% -
1993 -6.7% -
1992 -7.31% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, Rwanda's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $736M, equivalent to 4.49% of GDP. This compares to Sao Tome and Principe's deficit of $24.8M, or 2.53% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Rwanda recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Sao Tome and Principe ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Rwanda posted an annual deficit equal to 2.46% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.39% of GDP for Sao Tome and Principe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Rwanda Sao Tome
2025 5.91% 0.9%
2024 1.77% 14.4%
2023 19.8% 21.1%
2022 17.7% 18.1%
2021 -0.39% 8.1%
2020 9.85% 9.8%
2019 3.35% 7.7%
2018 -0.31% 7.9%
2017 8.28% 5.7%
2016 7.17% 5.4%
2015 2.53% 6.1%
2014 2.35% 7%
2013 5.92% 8.1%
2012 10.3% 10.6%
2011 3.08% 14.3%
2010 -0.25% 13.3%
2009 12.9% 17%
2008 15.4% 32%
2007 9.08% 18.6%
2006 8.88% 23.1%
2005 9.01% 17.2%
2004 12.3% 13.3%
2003 7.45% 9.8%
2002 1.99% 10.1%
2001 3.34% 9.2%
2000 3.9% 11%
1999 -2.41% 11%
1998 6.21% 42.1%
1997 12% 69%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Rwanda has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.8%, compared with 15.2% in Sao Tome and Principe. In 2025, inflation was 5.91% in Rwanda and 0.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Balance of trade

Rwanda Sao Tome
Current account balance
-$1.81B
2024
$41.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
136/190
2024
68/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-12%
2024
+5.03%
2024
Goods imports
$5.55B
2024
$153M
2024
Goods exports
$3.2B
2024
$29.3M
2024
Service imports
$991M
2024
$83M
2024
Service exports
$1.08B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
35.1%
2025
33.3%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
13.3%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Rwanda Sao Tome
Economic freedom 56.5 60.6
Economic freedom ranking 121/197 93/197
Property rights 60.3 55.2
Government integrity 53.9 47.2
Judicial effectiveness 27.5 60.8
Tax burden 80.6 88.6
Government spending 75.7 80.6
Fiscal health 37.5 89.5
Business freedom 60.1 59.9
Labor freedom 49.1 40.8
Monetary freedom 72.3 59.4
Trade freedom 61.8 65
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 40 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Rwanda Sao Tome
2026 56.5 60.6
2025 54.8 60.4
2024 51.6 60.5
2023 52.2 61.5
2022 57.1 60.3
2021 68.3 55.9
2020 70.9 56.2
2019 71.1 54
2018 69.1 53.6
2017 67.6 55.4
2016 63.1 56.7
2015 64.8 53.3
2014 64.7 48.8
2013 64.1 48
2012 64.9 50.2
2011 62.7 49.5
2010 59.1 48.8
2009 54.2 43.8
2008 54.2 -
2007 52.4 -
2006 52.8 -
2005 51.7 -
2004 53.3 -
2003 47.8 -
2002 50.4 -
2001 45.4 -
2000 42.3 -
1999 39.8 -
1998 39.1 -
1997 38.3 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Rwanda is 56.5, ranking 121/197, compared to 60.6 for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 93/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Rwanda Sao Tome
Services, % of GDP
52.3%
2025
81.4%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
22%
2025
2.23%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.3%
2025
12.2%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2025
$913M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$4,070
2025
$6,920
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.96B
2025
$58.8M
2024
Total reserves ranking
128/177
2025
175/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$560M
2024
$20.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$573M
2024
-$16.7M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$13.2M
2024
$3.83M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.91%
2024
0.62%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.4%
2023
66.2%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
34.1%
2025
8.74%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.