Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda
Rwanda: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 4.50 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.50 million people
Change on year
up 5.7%
World rank
106th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.50 million people
in 2025
All-time low
38,396 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people 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 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda is 4.50 million people, 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, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda peaked at 4.50 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 38,396 people, 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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 38,396 people | — |
| 1951 | 41,842 people | +9.0% |
| 1952 | 45,418 people | +8.5% |
| 1953 | 49,121 people | +8.2% |
| 1954 | 52,958 people | +7.8% |
| 1955 | 56,938 people | +7.5% |
| 1956 | 61,058 people | +7.2% |
| 1957 | 65,322 people | +7.0% |
| 1958 | 69,693 people | +6.7% |
| 1959 | 74,136 people | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 78,580 people | +6.0% |
| 1961 | 82,829 people | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 86,813 people | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 90,554 people | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 94,383 people | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 98,656 people | +4.5% |
| 1966 | 103,409 people | +4.8% |
| 1967 | 108,744 people | +5.2% |
| 1968 | 114,695 people | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 121,284 people | +5.7% |
| 1970 | 128,824 people | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 138,219 people | +7.3% |
| 1972 | 149,809 people | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 163,155 people | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 177,733 people | +8.9% |
| 1975 | 192,945 people | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 208,137 people | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 222,528 people | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 235,255 people | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 246,629 people | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 257,834 people | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 269,080 people | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 280,492 people | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 292,162 people | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 304,198 people | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 316,711 people | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 329,786 people | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 343,534 people | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 358,099 people | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 373,596 people | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 389,043 people | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 403,662 people | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 435,130 people | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 510,795 people | +17.4% |
| 1994 | 508,300 people | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 500,206 people | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 690,907 people | +38.1% |
| 1997 | 917,793 people | +32.8% |
| 1998 | 1.08 million people | +17.3% |
| 1999 | 1.20 million people | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 1.30 million people | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 1.37 million people | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 1.42 million people | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 1.45 million people | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 1.49 million people | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.57 million people | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 1.62 million people | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.66 million people | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 1.70 million people | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 1.75 million people | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 1.79 million people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 1.83 million people | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.89 million people | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 1.99 million people | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 2.12 million people | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 2.28 million people | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 2.47 million people | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 2.69 million people | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 2.93 million people | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 3.20 million people | +9.1% |
| 2021 | 3.49 million people | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 3.79 million people | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 4.03 million people | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 4.26 million people | +5.8% |
| 2025 | 4.50 million people | +5.7% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 4.50 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 65% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 4.50 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 people | 690,907 people |
| 1997 | +32.8% | 690,907 people | 917,793 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 55,488 people | 38,396 people | 74,136 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 97,995 people | 78,580 people | 121,284 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 186,323 people | 128,824 people | 246,629 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 312,549 people | 257,834 people | 373,596 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 662,833 people | 389,043 people | 1.20 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.51 million people | 1.30 million people | 1.70 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.17 million people | 1.75 million people | 2.93 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.88 million people | 3.20 million people | 4.50 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More population data for Rwanda
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.01 million people (2100)
- Population density 1,329 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4596 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.06 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Rwanda was 4.50 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 4.50 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,396 people in 1950.
- How does Rwanda rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Rwanda ranks 106th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.