Vision 2020 set ambitious targets to reduce poverty, boost economic growth, and build infrastructure, leading to significant progress in healthcare, education, governance, and economic stability.
Now, Rwanda is looking to the future with Vision 2050, which aims to transform the nation into a high-income economy by mid-century, ensuring prosperity and opportunity for all. Let's explore 10 key aspects of Rwanda's Vision 2050.
1. A vision for prosperity and high living standards
At the heart of Vision 2050 is Rwanda's goal to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050.
Between 1998 and 1999, the country set a target to increase GDP per capita from USD 250 per year to USD 900 by 2020.
The current roadmap targets an ambitious GDP per capita of USD 4,036 by 2035 and USD 12,476 by 2050.
To reach these targets, the needed GDP growth rates (annual average) are at least 12% during 2018-2035 and 10% from 2036 to 2050.
This economic growth is expected to provide Rwandans with better living standards, including universal access to quality education, healthcare, and modern infrastructure.
2. Human development as a key pillar
Human development is a central pillar of Vision 2050, aiming to harness the economic potential of Rwanda's growing workforce. By 2050, the working-age population is expected to increase to 65.7%, up from 61% in 2017.
To realize the benefits of this demographic dividend, the Vision focuses on key priorities: ensuring universal access to high-quality healthcare and education, transforming the workforce for greater productivity, and promoting skills development.
These investments are crucial for fostering a healthy, educated, and skilled labor force, which will be essential for driving Rwanda's economic transformation and achieving long-term prosperity.
3. Economic growth through competitiveness and innovation
Rwanda is committed to enhancing its global competitiveness by developing a diversified economy.
By 2035, Rwanda plans to be among the top 10 countries for ease of doing business, rank among the top 20 economies in competitiveness by 2035 and top 10 in 2050.
This vision includes specific priorities which focus on creating a diversified economy built upon future industries.
It emphasizes developing competitive manufacturing, supported by a regional logistics hub, and driving transformative growth through modern and innovative services sectors.
The vision also prioritizes export-oriented knowledge services and high-end sustainable tourism, while ensuring universal access to financial services for all, among others.
4. Agriculture for wealth creation
In 2024, agriculture contributed 24 percent to GDP and employed over 43 percent of the population as at March 2025. As agriculture remains a key sector, Vision 2050 focuses on transforming the sector to generate wealth and reduce poverty.
By increasing the use of modern farming technologies, ensuring market-oriented agriculture, and enhancing climate resilience, Rwanda will integrate its agricultural products into global value chains.
This shift will lead to higher productivity and greater economic opportunities for both men and women in agriculture.
5. Urbanization and smart cities for growth
Urbanization is a central aspect of Rwanda's future development. By 2050, 70% of the population is projected to live in urban areas, with Kigali and six secondary cities serving as hubs of socioeconomic activity.
Rural settlements will grow in a clustered and densified way with the necessary basic infrastructure, services and facilities.
Rural households settled in integrated planned settlements will increase from 67.2% (EICV5 2016/17) to 80% by 2024 and 100% by 2035. This will be maintained throughout 2050.
Overall, the country will embrace smart and green cities that are energy-efficient and designed to thrive in a sustainable urban ecosystem.
6. A modern and accountable governance system
Vision 2050 emphasizes the importance of accountable institutions and effective governance.
The vision outlines the continued development of citizen-centered reforms, where local innovations and home-grown solutions will remain central to the country's development.
Institutions will be modernized, ensuring efficiency and transparency in public service delivery, reinforcing Rwanda's progress towards socioeconomic transformation.
7. A green growth and climate resilience path
Sustainability is key in Vision 2050. The plan includes a Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS) aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient economy.
Rwanda will focus on efficient use of natural resources while ensuring the country's climate adaptation strategies are strong enough to cope with challenges posed by global warming.
By protecting the environment, Rwanda will achieve long-term ecological sustainability alongside its economic growth.
8. Energy sustainability for the future
Energy access will play a crucial role in Rwanda's economic expansion. Access to electricity stood at 72% in 2024 from 34% in 2017. By 2050, 100% of the population is expected to have access to electricity, with renewable energy making up at least 60% of the power generation mix.
Increased energy consumption is expected as Rwanda's economy grows, but this will be managed sustainably to ensure energy supply meets demand without compromising environmental goals.
9. Life expectancy
Rwanda's Vision 2050 sets ambitious targets for improving the health and well-being of its citizens, with life expectancy being a central indicator of success.
As of 2020, life expectancy in Rwanda stood at 67.8 years. However, Vision 2050 aims for significant improvement, projecting 71.7 years by 2035 and 73 years by 2050.
This is a reflection of the country's focus on enhancing healthcare, access to medical services, and overall living standards.
Compared to regional averages, Rwanda's current life expectancy is strong, particularly when compared to neighbors like Uganda (63 years).
10. Population growth and reduced unemployment
The country's population, projected to grow at a slower rate, is expected to reach 1.4% by 2050, down from 2.5% in 2019, with a growing proportion of the workforce entering the productive age group.
Rwanda's last national census in 2022 reported a population of 13.2 million, up from 10.5 million recorded in 2012. As of July 2025, Rwanda's population had reached 14.1 million. In 2050, the population is expected to reach 22 million in 2022.
Besides, by 2050, Rwanda aims to significantly reduce unemployment, targeting an unemployment rate of 5%, down from 15.2% in 2019.
This will be driven by investments in education, skills development, and private sector growth.
Achieving Vision 2050 will not happen overnight, and a rigorous implementation framework is in place to ensure that progress is monitored and adjusted regularly.
The vision includes five-year reviews, starting with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), which serves to bridge the Vision 2020 and Vision 2050, to assess how the goals are being met and identify necessary adjustments.
The elaboration of Vision 2050 has taken into consideration the global and regional development agendas, to ensure harmonization of targets and indicators.
Those include: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, East African Community (EAC) Vision 2050, and the Paris Agreement on climate change among other instruments.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/10-key-things-to-know-about-rwanda-s-vision-2050
