Urban population growth in Rwanda
Rwanda: Urban population growth was 5.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Rwanda, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 5.6% for urban population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Rwanda peaked at 32.3% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -1.6%, in 1995.
Rwanda ranks 3rd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.8% | 4.1% | 5.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 7.1% | 4.7% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.6% | -1.6% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 2.3% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 2.4% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 5.6% | 8.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 1 Burundi 5.8% compare
- 2 Chad 5.7% compare
- 4 Niger 5.0% compare
- 5 Mozambique 4.9% compare
- 6 United Arab Emirates 4.9% compare
More climate change data for Rwanda
- Population growth 2.2% (2025)
- Population, total 14.57 million (2025)
- Urban population 4.50 million (2025)
- Urban population 30.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 9.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.61 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 6.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 9.1% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 9.1% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 3.9 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Rwanda?
- Urban population growth in Rwanda was 5.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 32.3% in 1996.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6% in 1995.
- How does Rwanda rank for urban population growth?
- Rwanda ranks 3rd out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. 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 growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.