Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 81.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
81.9%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
6th
of 214 countries
All-time high
96.8%
in 1970
All-time low
81.9%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Rwanda, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Rwanda is 81.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Rwanda peaked at 96.8% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 81.9%, in 2024.
That places Rwanda 6th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 96.8% | — |
| 1971 | 96.7% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 96.5% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 96.3% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 96.2% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 96.0% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 95.8% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 95.6% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 95.4% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 95.3% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 95.3% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 95.2% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 95.1% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 95.1% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 95.0% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 94.9% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 94.9% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 94.8% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 94.7% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 94.7% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 94.6% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 94.5% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 93.7% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 92.7% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 91.5% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 90.2% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 88.6% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 87.5% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 86.8% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 85.9% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 85.1% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 84.2% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 83.2% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 83.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 83.1% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 83.0% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 83.0% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 82.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 82.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 82.8% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 82.7% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 82.6% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 82.4% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 82.3% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 82.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 81.9% | -0.2% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 81.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 59.5%, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 81.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 54.5%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 96.1% | 95.3% | 96.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 95.0% | 94.7% | 95.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 90.6% | 85.9% | 94.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.4% | 83.1% | 85.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.0% | 82.7% | 83.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.3% | 81.9% | 82.6% | 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 rural population in Rwanda?
- Rural population in Rwanda was 81.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 96.8% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.9% in 2024.
- How does Rwanda rank for rural population?
- Rwanda ranks 6th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). 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