Rwanda Sees a Significant Rise in Female Business Ownership

According to a recent report by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), female ownership of individual businesses in Rwanda has seen a substantial increase in the last five years, reflecting a promising rise in women entrepreneurship in the country.

The annual RDB report reveals that female ownership of businesses surged from 27% in 2017 to 34% in 2022, signifying a trend towards a more balanced gender distribution in the private sector. In 2022 alone, at least one female company director was found in 39% of companies, underlining Rwanda’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity in corporate leadership.

In the past year, 93,764 businesses were registered in the country, including 18,692 domestic companies, 74,779 individual enterprises, and 63 foreign companies. The report emphasized the considerable increase in female ownership of individual enterprises, which grew from 38% in 2017 to 50% in 2022. This striking growth underscores the critical role of women’s empowerment and gender equality in the business sector.