Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Rwanda, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Rwanda is 2.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Rwanda peaked at 16.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -18.0%, in 1995.
Rwanda ranks 48th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.0% | — |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 3.1% | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 3.2% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 3.4% | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 3.4% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | -14.5% |
| 1991 | 2.0% | -22.3% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | +85.1% |
| 1994 | -16.1% | -524.0% |
| 1995 | -18.0% | +11.5% |
| 1996 | 16.8% | -193.1% |
| 1997 | 14.5% | -13.5% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | -71.6% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -80.2% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | +9.9% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | +52.8% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +62.2% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +20.2% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 2.6% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | -2.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 2.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 83% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 2.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 | -524.0% | 3.8% | -16.1% |
| 1996 | +193.1% | -18.0% | 16.8% |
| 1993 | +85.1% | 2.1% | 3.8% |
| 1999 | -80.2% | 4.1% | 0.8% |
| 1998 | -71.6% | 14.5% | 4.1% |
| 2003 | +62.2% | 1.4% | 2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | -18.0% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 0.8% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 5 |
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)
- Population growth rate 0.217 (2100)
- Population density 1,329 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.01 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Rwanda?
- Population growth in Rwanda was 2.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 16.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -18.0% in 1995.
- How does Rwanda rank for population growth?
- Rwanda ranks 48th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release