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Economy of Rwanda vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Rwanda has a GDP of $16.4B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 142/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Rwanda has $10.6B in government debt (64.6% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Rwanda vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Rwanda
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Rwanda UAE
2025 $16,372,132,990 -
2024 $15,111,064,182 $552,324,919,096
2023 $14,806,501,437 $522,622,268,401
2022 $13,747,404,814 $511,403,404,642
2021 $11,252,894,910 $422,441,282,436
2020 $10,487,146,253 $357,161,776,271
2019 $10,519,272,170 $433,926,218,686
2018 $9,650,161,136 $440,560,003,161
2017 $9,164,345,443 $403,365,056,079
2016 $8,596,812,241 $381,717,208,621
2015 $8,447,064,079 $381,973,135,513
2014 $8,129,984,484 $424,935,834,104
2013 $7,714,276,920 $409,632,574,703
2012 $7,556,673,276 $392,793,559,051
2011 $6,802,676,034 $368,881,033,963
2010 $6,052,276,078 $307,736,348,527
2009 $5,603,399,015 $253,547,358,747
2008 $5,120,655,375 $315,474,615,741
2007 $4,017,977,507 $257,916,148,767
2006 $3,274,207,945 $222,116,532,963
2005 $2,933,819,766 $180,617,467,954
2004 $2,376,496,067 $147,824,249,958
2003 $2,138,237,279 $124,346,476,180
2002 $1,966,003,468 $109,816,091,079
2001 $1,966,600,715 $103,311,631,797
2000 $2,068,836,754 $104,337,463,730
1999 $2,157,108,263 $84,445,399,335
1998 $1,989,343,546 $75,674,384,205
1997 $1,851,558,197 $78,838,886,862
1996 $1,382,334,879 $73,571,217,377
1995 $1,293,535,193 $65,743,604,966
1994 $753,636,370 $59,305,111,228
1993 $1,971,525,712 $55,625,269,485
1992 $2,029,026,962 $54,239,188,746
1991 $1,911,600,237 $51,552,058,250
1990 $2,550,185,679 $50,701,374,187
1989 $2,405,022,593 $41,464,966,302
1988 $2,395,492,687 $36,275,613,877
1987 $2,157,432,668 $36,384,802,310
1986 $1,944,710,684 $33,943,568,481
1985 $1,715,626,331 $40,603,631,079
1984 $1,587,413,084 $41,807,931,453
1983 $1,479,687,587 $42,803,373,390
1982 $1,407,243,139 $46,622,715,281
1981 $1,407,062,527 $49,333,471,895
1980 $1,254,765,642 $43,599,134,193
1979 $1,109,346,131 $31,225,557,022
1978 $905,709,076 $23,775,718,541
1977 $746,650,613 $24,871,660,292
1976 $637,753,853 $19,213,212,475
1975 $571,863,500 $14,720,729,969
1974 $308,458,423 $11,651,505,689
1973 $290,746,157 $4,231,243,616
1972 $246,457,838 $1,415,086,929
1971 $222,952,504 $939,893,600
1970 $219,900,006 $685,986,701
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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

GDP per capita in Rwanda vs United Arab Emirates by year

Rwanda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Rwanda UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,124 - - -
2024 $1,060 $3,711 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $1,061 $3,399 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $1,007 $3,099 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $843 $2,733 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $803 $2,285 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $823 $2,336 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $773 $2,125 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $751 $1,968 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $721 $1,866 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $726 $1,781 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $715 $1,678 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $695 $1,512 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $698 $1,455 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $643 $1,413 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $587 $1,314 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $557 $1,241 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $522 $1,191 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $421 $1,079 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $352 $1,002 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $324 $914 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $269.5 $832 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $249 $775 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $234 $760 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $237.3 $670 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $251.9 $609 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $264.7 $554 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $246.2 $528 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $238.7 $500 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $206 $499 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $228 $514 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $111 $311 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $247 $521 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $264.1 $575 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $254 $542 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $346 $549 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $335 - $23,167 -
1988 $344 - $21,570 -
1987 $320 - $23,113 -
1986 $297.7 - $23,132 -
1985 $271.6 - $29,468 -
1984 $259.9 - $32,012 -
1983 $250.6 - $34,650 -
1982 $246.4 - $39,972 -
1981 $254.6 - $44,855 -
1980 $234.4 - $42,925 -
1979 $213.8 - $34,238 -
1978 $179.9 - $29,379 -
1977 $152.7 - $35,020 -
1976 $134.4 - $31,197 -
1975 $124.1 - $27,117 -
1974 $68.9 - $23,823 -
1973 $66.9 - $9,696 -
1972 $58.4 - $3,675 -
1971 $54.4 - $2,805 -
1970 $55.2 - $2,394 -
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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Rwanda's GDP per capita is $1,124, ranking 178/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Rwanda ranks 168th at $3,711, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Rwanda UAE
Gross domestic product
$16.4B
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
142/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
9.38%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,124
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
178/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,711
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
168/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$10.6B
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
64.6%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$726
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
155/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,614
2026
$40,096
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.2B
2025
$1.11T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
183,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33.4%
2023
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2023
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.1%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
5.91%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
6.75%
2025
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.36%
2025
1.88%
2024
Population
15062056
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Rwanda
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Rwanda UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 24.1% 64.6% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 27.1% 63.4% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 26.2% 61.4% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 28.7% 59% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 31% 66.2% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 32.5% 66.7% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 27.7% 52.8% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 26.3% 49.2% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 25.3% 46.1% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 25.4% 41.5% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 26.9% 33.5% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 27.8% 29.5% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 26.5% 27% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 24.9% 19.3% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 25% 18.9% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 24.1% 19% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 22.6% 18.7% 35% 21.1%
2008 22.7% 18.5% 22% 8.95%
2007 22.7% 22.4% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 20.9% 22.8% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 20.2% 59.8% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 18.1% 82.1% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 18.8% 80.7% 20% 3.33%
2002 20.7% 93.4% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 19.3% 85.2% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 18.5% 87.2% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 22.7% 79.5% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 16.6% 71.1% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 17.2% 73.3% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 19.8% 84.6% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 18.3% 102.2% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 13.5% - 30.1% 5.58%
1993 20.6% - 31.5% 6.01%
1992 21.8% - 29.6% 5.31%
1991 - - 36% 4.97%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, Rwanda's government spending was $3.95B, accounting for 24.1% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 64.6% in Rwanda and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 68/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Rwanda

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Rwanda UAE
2025 -4.49% 5.15%
2024 -6.19% 6.41%
2023 -4.88% 5.82%
2022 -5.56% 9.8%
2021 -6.89% 3.96%
2020 -9.26% -2.42%
2019 -5% 2.5%
2018 -2.57% 3.65%
2017 -2.54% -0.16%
2016 -2.3% -2.95%
2015 -2.71% -6.35%
2014 -3.97% 1.74%
2013 -1.29% 7.99%
2012 -2.41% 8.59%
2011 -0.87% 5.05%
2010 -0.65% 0.52%
2009 0.26% -6.13%
2008 0.84% 17.6%
2007 -1.58% 17.1%
2006 -0.03% 20.2%
2005 1.14% 16%
2004 2.31% 6.4%
2003 -1.25% 2.35%
2002 -2.06% -1.24%
2001 -1.83% 1.21%
2000 -0.22% 10.7%
1999 -4.48% 1.31%
1998 -2.63% 1%
1997 -2.25% 6.71%
1996 -5.08% 0.92%
1995 -2.07% 3.58%
1994 -9.68% -1.78%
1993 -6.7% -2.89%
1992 -7.31% 3.34%
1991 - 3.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, Rwanda's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $936M, equivalent to 6.19% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 33 years, Rwanda recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Rwanda posted an annual deficit equal to 3.02% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.26% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Rwanda

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Rwanda UAE
2025 5.91% 1.3%
2024 1.77% 1.7%
2023 19.8% 1.6%
2022 17.7% 4.8%
2021 -0.39% -0.1%
2020 9.85% -2.1%
2019 3.35% -1.9%
2018 -0.31% 3.1%
2017 8.28% 2%
2016 7.17% 1.6%
2015 2.53% 4.1%
2014 2.35% 2.3%
2013 5.92% 1.1%
2012 10.3% 0.7%
2011 3.08% 0.9%
2010 -0.25% 0.9%
2009 12.9% -4.7%
2008 15.4% 12.3%
2007 9.08% 11.1%
2006 8.88% 9.3%
2005 9.01% 6.2%
2004 12.3% 5%
2003 7.45% 3.1%
2002 1.99% 2.9%
2001 3.34% 2.8%
2000 3.9% 1.3%
1999 -2.41% 2.1%
1998 6.21% 2%
1997 12% 3%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Rwanda has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.8%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 5.91% in Rwanda and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Rwanda
Export category Export value
Precious metals & jewellery $502M
Raw materials & minerals $45.3M
Raw agricultural goods $16.1M
Metals $6.76M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.26M
Machinery & equipment $1.2M
Chemicals & pharma $311K
Animal & marine products $199K
Textiles & consumer goods $195K
Wood & paper products $8K
UAE
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $130M
Textiles & consumer goods $16.3M
Chemicals & pharma $11.2M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $9.58M
Raw materials & minerals $7.68M
Metals $7M
Precious metals & jewellery $6.08M
Wood & paper products $2.74M
Raw agricultural goods $1.04M
Miscellaneous $947K

Balance of trade

Rwanda UAE
Current account balance
-$1.81B
2024
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
136/190
2024
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-12%
2024
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$5.55B
2024
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$3.2B
2024
$467B
2024
Service imports
$991M
2024
$117B
2024
Service exports
$1.08B
2024
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
35.1%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Rwanda UAE
Economic freedom 56.5 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 121/197 29/197
Property rights 60.3 62.9
Government integrity 53.9 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 27.5 34.4
Tax burden 80.6 99.9
Government spending 75.7 85.1
Fiscal health 37.5 97.6
Business freedom 60.1 84.5
Labor freedom 49.1 63.2
Monetary freedom 72.3 81.2
Trade freedom 61.8 78.6
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 40 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Rwanda
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Rwanda UAE
2026 56.5 71.9
2025 54.8 71.6
2024 51.6 71.1
2023 52.2 70.9
2022 57.1 70.2
2021 68.3 76.9
2020 70.9 76.2
2019 71.1 77.6
2018 69.1 77.6
2017 67.6 76.9
2016 63.1 72.6
2015 64.8 72.4
2014 64.7 71.4
2013 64.1 71.1
2012 64.9 69.3
2011 62.7 67.8
2010 59.1 67.3
2009 54.2 64.7
2008 54.2 62.6
2007 52.4 62.6
2006 52.8 62.2
2005 51.7 65.2
2004 53.3 67.2
2003 47.8 73.4
2002 50.4 73.6
2001 45.4 74.9
2000 42.3 74.2
1999 39.8 71.5
1998 39.1 72.2
1997 38.3 71.9
1996 - 71.6

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/rwanda/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Rwanda is 56.5, ranking 121/197, compared to 71.9 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Rwanda UAE
Services, % of GDP
52.3%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.3%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$4,070
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.96B
2025
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking
128/177
2025
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$560M
2024
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$573M
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$13.2M
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.91%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.4%
2023
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
34.1%
2025
26.6%
2023

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/united-arab-emirates | 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 (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2024–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. 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.