The survey, conducted by the International Budget Partnership and launched in Rwanda by Transparency International Rwanda (TI-Rwanda), assessed 82 countries on budget transparency, public participation and oversight.

Rwanda scored 55 out of 100 for budget transparency, up from 50 in 2023 and 45 in 2021. Kenya ranked first in East Africa with 56 points.

Rwanda ranked sixth in Sub-Saharan Africa and recorded a notable improvement in public participation, with its score rising from 16 in 2023 to 26 in 2025. However, this remains the country’s weakest area.

Budget oversight improved from 56 to 61 points. Legislative oversight increased from 44 to 47, while audit oversight rose sharply from 78 to 89, making it one of the strongest areas of progress.

The survey, however, identified continued challenges in the timely publication, completeness and accessibility of budget information.

TI-Rwanda Executive Director Apollinaire Mupiganyi said the findings show continued progress while underscoring the need to ensure that budget information is timely, comprehensive and accessible, alongside stronger opportunities for citizens to participate in budget processes.

“The improvement recorded in the OBS 2025 demonstrates that Rwanda has continued to strengthen its budget accountability systems. At the same time, the findings remind us that progress should go beyond producing budget documents to ensuring that information is published on time, is comprehensive and accessible, and that citizens have meaningful opportunities to participate and see how their contributions are considered. Strengthening these areas will be important for translating budget transparency into greater accountability and more responsive public services,” he said.

Globally, budget transparency averaged 47 points, while public participation averaged 18.

Legislative and audit oversight averaged 45 and 60 points respectively. Public participation remained the weakest pillar worldwide despite a modest improvement from previous years.