Urban population in Rwanda
Rwanda: Urban population was 4.50 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Rwanda, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Rwanda stood at 4.50 million. That is the highest value across all 66 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 population in Rwanda peaked at 4.50 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 78,580, in 1960.
That places Rwanda 104th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 78,580 | — |
| 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 | 508,299 | -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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 662,832 | 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 climate change data for Rwanda
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 14.59 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,059 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,586 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 5.98 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 88.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 388.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 261.95 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 126.86 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.9885 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Rwanda?
- Urban population in Rwanda was 4.50 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 4.50 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 78,580 in 1960.
- How does Rwanda rank for urban population?
- Rwanda ranks 104th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.