Urban and rural population in Rwanda
Rwanda: Urban and rural population was 4.50 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.50 million
Change on year
up 5.7%
World rank
106th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.50 million
in 2025
All-time low
38,396
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Rwanda, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Rwanda is 4.50 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 112.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Rwanda peaked at 4.50 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 38,396, in 1950.
Rwanda ranks 106th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 38,396 | — |
| 1951 | 41,842 | +9.0% |
| 1952 | 45,418 | +8.5% |
| 1953 | 49,121 | +8.2% |
| 1954 | 52,958 | +7.8% |
| 1955 | 56,938 | +7.5% |
| 1956 | 61,058 | +7.2% |
| 1957 | 65,322 | +7.0% |
| 1958 | 69,693 | +6.7% |
| 1959 | 74,136 | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 78,580 | +6.0% |
| 1961 | 82,829 | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 86,813 | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 90,554 | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 94,383 | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 98,656 | +4.5% |
| 1966 | 103,409 | +4.8% |
| 1967 | 108,744 | +5.2% |
| 1968 | 114,695 | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 121,284 | +5.7% |
| 1970 | 128,824 | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 138,219 | +7.3% |
| 1972 | 149,809 | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 163,155 | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 177,733 | +8.9% |
| 1975 | 192,945 | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 208,137 | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 222,528 | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 235,255 | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 246,629 | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 257,834 | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 269,080 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 280,492 | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 292,162 | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 304,198 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 316,711 | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 329,786 | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 343,534 | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 358,099 | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 373,596 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 389,043 | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 403,662 | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 435,130 | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 510,795 | +17.4% |
| 1994 | 508,300 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 500,206 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 690,907 | +38.1% |
| 1997 | 917,793 | +32.8% |
| 1998 | 1.08 million | +17.3% |
| 1999 | 1.20 million | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 1.30 million | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 1.37 million | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 1.42 million | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 1.45 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 1.49 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.57 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 1.62 million | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.66 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 1.70 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 1.75 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 1.79 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 1.83 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.89 million | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 1.99 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 2.12 million | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 2.28 million | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 2.47 million | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 2.69 million | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 2.93 million | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 3.20 million | +9.1% |
| 2021 | 3.49 million | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 3.79 million | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 4.03 million | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 4.26 million | +5.8% |
| 2025 | 4.50 million | +5.7% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 4.50 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 65% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 4.50 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +38.1% | 500,206 | 690,907 |
| 1997 | +32.8% | 690,907 | 917,793 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 55,488 | 38,396 | 74,136 | 10 |
| 1960s | 97,995 | 78,580 | 121,284 | 10 |
| 1970s | 186,323 | 128,824 | 246,629 | 10 |
| 1980s | 312,549 | 257,834 | 373,596 | 10 |
| 1990s | 662,833 | 389,043 | 1.20 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.51 million | 1.30 million | 1.70 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.17 million | 1.75 million | 2.93 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.88 million | 3.20 million | 4.50 million | 6 |
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 urban and rural population in Rwanda?
- Urban and rural population in Rwanda was 4.50 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 4.50 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,396 in 1950.
- How does Rwanda rank for urban and rural population?
- Rwanda ranks 106th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 112.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).