Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 565.64 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
565.64 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
18th
of 216 countries
All-time high
565.64 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
517.88 people per sq. km of land area
in 2019
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Rwanda, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 565.64 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 9.2% over five years.
Over the whole period, population density in Rwanda peaked at 565.64 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 517.88 people per sq. km of land area, in 2019.
Rwanda ranks 18th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 125.93 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 129.15 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 132.1 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 135.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 138.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 142.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 147.12 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 151.76 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 156.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 161.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 166.2 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 171.07 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 176.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 181.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 186.78 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 192.38 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 198.15 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 204.1 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 210.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 217 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 224.05 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 231.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 239.37 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 247.57 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 256.07 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 264.77 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 273.59 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 282.45 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 291.23 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 298.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 305.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 311.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 323.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 275.33 people per sq. km of land area | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 230 people per sq. km of land area | -16.5% |
| 1996 | 271.94 people per sq. km of land area | +18.2% |
| 1997 | 314.36 people per sq. km of land area | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 327.59 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 330.28 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 332.95 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 335.92 people per sq. km of land area | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 340.5 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 348.07 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 357.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 367.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 376.95 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 387.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 397.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 407.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 418.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 428.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 438.99 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 449.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 460.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 471.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 483.14 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 494.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 506.2 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 517.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 529.62 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 541.36 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 553.35 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 565.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 565.64 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for low income countries, which is 63.56 people per sq. km of land area, 8.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 565.64 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 68.7 people per sq. km of land area, 8.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 139.92 people per sq. km of land area | 125.93 people per sq. km of land area | 156.52 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 184.79 people per sq. km of land area | 161.36 people per sq. km of land area | 210.36 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 252.76 people per sq. km of land area | 217 people per sq. km of land area | 291.23 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 298.85 people per sq. km of land area | 230 people per sq. km of land area | 330.28 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 365.11 people per sq. km of land area | 332.95 people per sq. km of land area | 407.8 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 466.98 people per sq. km of land area | 418.22 people per sq. km of land area | 517.88 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 547.49 people per sq. km of land area | 529.62 people per sq. km of land area | 565.64 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 15 Mauritius 625.26 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 16 Aruba 596.44 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 17 Nauru 593.75 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 19 Lebanon 564.37 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 20 San Marino 564.33 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 21 Saint Martin (French part) 550.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Rwanda
- Population in the largest city 29.5% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 36.01 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0913 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.33 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 50.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.33 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 13.52 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Rwanda?
- Population density in Rwanda was 565.64 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 565.64 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 517.88 people per sq. km of land area in 2019.
- How does Rwanda rank for population density?
- Rwanda ranks 18th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.