Rwanda ranks among top global performers in human capital, World Bank says

The index evaluates how effectively countries invest in their people and translate those investments into economic productivity. Rwanda stood out among nations with similar income levels, scoring 157—well above the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 126 and the developing-country average of 116.

The World Bank cited significant progress since 2000, particularly in health outcomes and job creation, alongside improved education performance.

In Rwanda, 79% of people survive to age 50, higher than the regional average of 73.8%. About 70.2% of children are not stunted, exceeding the low-income country average of 63.9%. Education quality also outperformed benchmarks, with a score of 417 compared with regional and developing-country averages of 341 and 342.

Higher education completion stands at 22%, roughly double the regional average. Youth employment is 55%, above the regional level, while 62.4% of adults are employed—more than twice the regional average.

Finance Minister Yusuf Murangwa said the ranking highlights Rwanda’s sustained investment in its population.

“This recognition reflects continued efforts to prioritize health, quality education and access to jobs,” he said, adding that the government is focused on sustaining progress over the long term.

The HCI+ expands on the original Human Capital Index by including higher education, labor force participation and job quality. It measures the future productivity of children born today based on current investments.

Despite outperforming peers, Rwanda aims to reach middle-income status by 2035.