Summary:OVERVIEW
Rwanda made notable achievements in sustaining high growth, reducing poverty and
ameliorating income inequality during the first Poverty Reduction Strategy (2002–06) and the
first Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 1; 2008–2013). Economic
growth and poverty reduction exceeded the targets set for the EDPRS 1. Real GDP grew at an annual
average rate of 8 percent and poverty dropped from 57 percent in 2006 to 45 percent in 2011.1
Inequality in household consumption was brought down as growth was pro-poor. Progress on social
indicators is evidenced by much higher primary school completion rates (79 percent in 2011
compared to 51 percent in 2008) and lower child mortality (54 per 1,000 live births in 2011, down
from 76 in 2008).
