Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda
Rwanda: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 30.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
30.9%
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
210th
of 236 countries
All-time high
30.9%
in 2025
All-time low
1.8%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 30.9% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 69.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda peaked at 30.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1950.
That places Rwanda 210th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.8% | — |
| 1951 | 1.9% | +5.1% |
| 1952 | 2.0% | +4.8% |
| 1953 | 2.0% | +4.5% |
| 1954 | 2.1% | +4.2% |
| 1955 | 2.2% | +3.9% |
| 1956 | 2.3% | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 2.4% | +3.4% |
| 1958 | 2.5% | +3.2% |
| 1959 | 2.5% | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 2.6% | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 2.7% | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 2.7% | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.8% | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 2.8% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 2.9% | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 2.9% | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 3.0% | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 3.1% | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 3.2% | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 3.5% | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 3.8% | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 4.0% | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 4.2% | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 4.4% | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 4.8% | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 4.8% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 4.9% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 4.9% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 4.9% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 5.0% | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 5.2% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 5.3% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 5.4% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 5.7% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 6.4% | +13.0% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 8.8% | +17.8% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | +16.8% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | +14.9% |
| 1998 | 13.3% | +12.6% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | +10.1% |
| 2000 | 15.8% | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 16.5% | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 16.9% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 16.9% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 16.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 19.1% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 21.5% | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 23.0% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 24.5% | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 26.1% | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 27.8% | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 28.9% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 29.9% | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 30.9% | +3.4% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 30.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 34.5%, 89% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 30.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 69% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.0% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.9% | 5.3% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.8% | 15.8% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 16.9% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.0% | 24.5% | 30.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 207 Uganda 31.9% compare
- 208 Saint Kitts and Nevis 31.9% compare
- 209 Solomon Islands 31.3% compare
- 211 Myanmar 30.6% compare
- 212 Guernsey 29.6% compare
- 213 Saint Lucia 29.1% 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 share of population living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda was 30.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 30.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1950.
- How does Rwanda rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Rwanda ranks 210th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.