Rwanda, 6th position among the most competitive country in Africa

Rwanda enters the GCI for the first time this year at 80th position, among the top five countries in the sub-Saharan African region. As do the other compara- tively successful African countries, Rwanda benefits from strong and well-functioning institutions, with very low levels of corruption (certainly related to the govern- ment’s non-tolerance policy) and an excellent security environment. Labor markets are highly efficient, finan- cial markets are relatively well developed, and Rwanda is characterized by a high capacity for innovation for a country at its stage of development.The greatest chal- lenges facing Rwanda in improving its competitiveness are the state of the country’s infrastructure (especially electricity and telephony), low secondary and university enrollment rates, and the poor health of its workforce (life expectancy is only 50 years, placing the country 130th on this indicator).