Annual change in population in Rwanda
Rwanda: Annual change in population was 303,448 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
303,448 people
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
56th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.05 million people
in 1997
All-time low
-1.19 million people
in 1994
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Rwanda, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Rwanda is 303,448 people, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Rwanda peaked at 1.05 million people in 1997 and was at its lowest, -1.19 million people, in 1994.
That places Rwanda 56th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 78,938 people | — |
| 1952 | 80,477 people | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 81,848 people | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 83,767 people | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 86,172 people | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 88,511 people | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 91,063 people | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 92,258 people | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 92,266 people | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 89,899 people | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 84,486 people | -6.0% |
| 1962 | 79,233 people | -6.2% |
| 1963 | 72,882 people | -8.0% |
| 1964 | 75,934 people | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 88,381 people | +16.4% |
| 1966 | 98,410 people | +11.3% |
| 1967 | 107,959 people | +9.7% |
| 1968 | 114,428 people | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 117,261 people | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 119,399 people | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 119,376 people | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 120,286 people | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 124,710 people | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 129,190 people | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 133,493 people | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 138,234 people | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 142,286 people | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 146,924 people | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 154,378 people | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 163,713 people | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 173,973 people | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 184,319 people | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 193,756 people | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 202,317 people | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 209,602 people | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 214,657 people | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 217,607 people | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 218,581 people | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 216,634 people | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 190,604 people | -12.0% |
| 1991 | 151,651 people | -20.4% |
| 1992 | 156,302 people | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 297,876 people | +90.6% |
| 1994 | -1.19 million people | -499.1% |
| 1995 | -1.12 million people | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 1.03 million people | -192.5% |
| 1997 | 1.05 million people | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 326,451 people | -68.8% |
| 1999 | 66,229 people | -79.7% |
| 2000 | 66,019 people | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 73,155 people | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 113,094 people | +54.6% |
| 2003 | 186,693 people | +65.1% |
| 2004 | 229,971 people | +23.2% |
| 2005 | 237,683 people | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 244,719 people | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 250,689 people | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 254,328 people | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 256,170 people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 257,122 people | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 256,182 people | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 256,162 people | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 263,436 people | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 271,418 people | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 275,268 people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 279,157 people | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 282,879 people | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 285,938 people | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 288,102 people | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 289,736 people | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 289,422 people | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 295,765 people | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 303,448 people | +2.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 303,448 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 556,727 people, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 303,448 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940 people, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -499.1% | 297,876 people | -1.19 million people |
| 1996 | +192.5% | -1.12 million people | 1.03 million people |
| 1993 | +90.6% | 156,302 people | 297,876 people |
| 1999 | -79.7% | 326,451 people | 66,229 people |
| 1998 | -68.8% | 1.05 million people | 326,451 people |
| 2003 | +65.1% | 113,094 people | 186,693 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 86,144 people | 78,938 people | 92,266 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 92,887 people | 72,882 people | 117,261 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 132,828 people | 119,376 people | 154,378 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 199,516 people | 163,713 people | 218,581 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 96,321 people | -1.19 million people | 1.05 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 191,252 people | 66,019 people | 256,170 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 271,566 people | 256,162 people | 288,102 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 294,593 people | 289,422 people | 303,448 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More population data for Rwanda
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5502 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 23,030 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.06 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4596 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 1,329 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.01 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Rwanda?
- Annual change in population in Rwanda was 303,448 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.05 million people in 1997.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.19 million people in 1994.
- How does Rwanda rank for annual change in population?
- Rwanda ranks 56th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.