Population growth rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Population growth rate was 2.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population growth rate in Rwanda, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, population growth rate in Rwanda stood at 2.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rate in Rwanda peaked at 22.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -41.8%, in 1994.
Rwanda ranks 48th 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.
Population growth rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.6% | — |
| 1951 | 3.6% | -1.7% |
| 1952 | 3.5% | -1.5% |
| 1953 | 3.4% | -2.1% |
| 1954 | 3.4% | -0.2% |
| 1955 | 3.4% | -0.9% |
| 1956 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 3.4% | -0.6% |
| 1958 | 3.2% | -3.5% |
| 1959 | 3.1% | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 2.9% | -8.2% |
| 1961 | 2.6% | -9.3% |
| 1962 | 2.4% | -8.0% |
| 1963 | 2.1% | -12.7% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +18.1% |
| 1965 | 2.7% | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 2.9% | +7.1% |
| 1967 | 3.1% | +6.0% |
| 1968 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 3.0% | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 2.9% | -4.6% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 2.9% | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 3.0% | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 3.1% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 3.1% | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 3.2% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 3.4% | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 3.4% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 3.4% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 3.3% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 3.1% | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | -24.5% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -19.4% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | +25.7% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | +130.2% |
| 1994 | -41.8% | -893.8% |
| 1995 | 9.9% | -123.7% |
| 1996 | 22.6% | +128.1% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | -66.6% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | -88.8% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | +15.2% |
| 2002 | 1.8% | +85.0% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | +49.8% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -2.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 2.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.7%, 80% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 2.2% 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 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 | -893.8% | 5.3% | -41.8% |
| 1993 | +130.2% | 2.3% | 5.3% |
| 1996 | +128.1% | 9.9% | 22.6% |
| 1995 | +123.7% | -41.8% | 9.9% |
| 1998 | -88.8% | 7.5% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | +85.0% | 0.9% | 1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.7% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | -41.8% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 0.8% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 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 population growth rate in Rwanda?
- 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 population growth rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -41.8% in 1994.
- How does Rwanda rank for population growth rate?
- Rwanda ranks 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. 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 Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.