Rwanda Demographics

Population of Rwanda (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Rwanda

Rwanda Population
14,889,693
see live
Yearly Change
+2.20%
Global Share
0.18%
Global Rank
77

Median Age

The median age in Rwanda is 20.2 years (2026).

Fertility in Rwanda

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
3.54
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Rwanda

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
68.5
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
70.6
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
66.1
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Rwanda


Infant Mortality
24.6
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
33.1
(per 1,000 live births)


Rwanda Urban Population

Currently, 31.9% of the population of Rwanda is urban (4,755,433 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Rwanda is 604 people per km² (1,563 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 24,668 km² (9,524 sq. miles).

Largest Cities and Urban Localities in Rwanda

The 30 largest of 36 cities and urban localities, ranked by population at the census of August 15, 2012 (by National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda).

RankCity or Urban LocalityPopulation
1Kigali859,332
2Gisenyi149,209
3Ruhengeri68,930
4Butare50,220
5GitaramaMuhanga49,038
6Byumba34,544
7Cyangugu27,416
8Nyanza25,417
9Bugarama24,679
10Kayonza21,482
11Rwamagana18,009
12Kinigi17,305
13Nyamata17,076
14Ruhango17,051
15Gikongoro16,695
16Mukamira15,101
17Mugina14,755
18NyagatareUmutara14,320
19Kamuhanda / RuyenziRunda12,995
20BugaragaraRwimiyaga12,490
21MukingoBusogo12,460
22KibuyeBwishyura12,325
23Bigogwe12,015
24Kibungo11,537
25Jenda10,465
26MabanzaRubengera10,431
27Gatsibo8,933
28Muganza8,110
29Kabarondo7,452
30Ruhuha?5,842
See all 36 cities and urban localities in Rwanda

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.