Natural population growth rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Natural population growth rate was 2.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Natural population growth rate in Rwanda, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, natural population growth rate in Rwanda stood at 2.2%.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth rate in Rwanda peaked at 3.6% in 1983 and was at its lowest, -10.6%, in 1994.
Rwanda ranks 36th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Natural population growth rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.6% | — |
| 1951 | 3.5% | -1.5% |
| 1952 | 3.5% | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 1954 | 3.5% | -0.6% |
| 1955 | 3.4% | -0.9% |
| 1956 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 3.4% | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 3.4% | -0.6% |
| 1960 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
| 1961 | 3.3% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 3.2% | -2.0% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | -10.1% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | +6.3% |
| 1965 | 3.0% | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 3.0% | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 3.0% | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 3.0% | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 3.0% | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 3.0% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 3.1% | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 3.2% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 3.5% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 3.5% | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 3.6% | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 3.6% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 3.6% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 3.5% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -6.9% |
| 1991 | 2.6% | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | -5.8% |
| 1994 | -10.6% | -559.6% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -120.2% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +7.6% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | +8.3% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 2.8% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -2.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 2.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 2.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.4%, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Natural population growth rate 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 | -559.6% | 2.3% | -10.6% |
| 1995 | +120.2% | -10.6% | 2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | -10.6% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 33 Zimbabwe 2.3% compare
- 34 Sao Tome and Principe 2.3% compare
- 35 Eritrea 2.2% compare
- 37 Sierra Leone 2.2% compare
- 38 Solomon Islands 2.2% compare
- 39 Equatorial Guinea 2.2% compare
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 natural population growth rate in Rwanda?
- Natural population growth rate in Rwanda was 2.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 1983.
- What is the lowest natural population growth rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.6% in 1994.
- How does Rwanda rank for natural population growth rate?
- Rwanda ranks 36th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. 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 Natural population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Births minus deaths, as a share of the population. This is the part of population change that comes only from births and deaths, ignoring migration.