Rwanda has been ranked the second-best country in Africa for digital skills among its population, according to a report released by the American online learning platform Coursera.
The ranking places Rwanda behind Botswana, which leads the continent. Globally, Rwanda ranks 64th in the Coursera 2025 Global Skills Report, which assesses digital competencies and workforce capabilities worldwide.
The report attributes Rwanda’s strong performance partly to the rapid growth of private technology companies providing digital services across the region. One such company operates in Rwanda and six other African countries, developing software solutions for various sectors.
Among the innovations highlighted are digital platforms that support private companies in participating in public procurement tenders, as well as tools designed to help researchers access reliable data and improve the accuracy of their findings.
Alex Ntale, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda ICT Chamber under the Private Sector Federation, said the findings reflect the results of Rwanda’s sustained investment in the technology sector.
He noted that the country is beginning to reap the benefits of long-term investments in digital infrastructure, including the expansion of internet connectivity, the adoption of digital tools, and the integration of technology into the education system.
Ntale said Rwanda has made notable progress in building a digital ecosystem, although more efforts are still needed to reach the country’s long-term ambitions.
According to the report, Rwanda scored 47 percent in digital skills among business professionals, 45 percent among workers in the technology sector, and 37 percent in data-related skills.
The country has set an ambitious target of developing one million software developers and at least 500,000 highly skilled ICT professionals by 2029.
In 2025, the Rwanda ICT Chamber launched a two-year program aimed at equipping more than 20,000 young people with digital skills to enhance their employment prospects and support innovation.
Experts say the growing number of Rwandans with advanced digital skills, particularly in areas such as software development and data analysis, could accelerate the country’s drive toward sustainable economic growth.
Speaking in an interview with One Nation Radio, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, said Rwanda is accelerating digital transformation across key sectors and aims to become a fully data-driven government by 2030.
