Population in largest city in Rwanda
Rwanda: Population in largest city was 1.33 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.33 million
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
114th
of 153 countries
All-time high
1.33 million
in 2025
All-time low
34,319
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Rwanda, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Rwanda is 1.33 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Rwanda peaked at 1.33 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34,319, in 1960.
That places Rwanda 114th out of 153 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.
Population in largest city in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 34,319 | — |
| 1961 | 36,251 | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 38,295 | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 40,453 | +5.6% |
| 1964 | 42,737 | +5.6% |
| 1965 | 45,143 | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 47,688 | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 50,377 | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 53,220 | +5.6% |
| 1969 | 56,217 | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 59,386 | +5.6% |
| 1971 | 64,353 | +8.4% |
| 1972 | 69,910 | +8.6% |
| 1973 | 75,929 | +8.6% |
| 1974 | 82,475 | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 89,586 | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 97,321 | +8.6% |
| 1977 | 105,700 | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 114,813 | +8.6% |
| 1979 | 121,567 | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 128,266 | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 135,315 | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 142,761 | +5.5% |
| 1983 | 150,617 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 158,917 | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 167,650 | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 176,875 | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 186,609 | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 196,892 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 207,712 | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 219,142 | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 231,201 | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 250,130 | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 271,500 | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 294,729 | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 319,946 | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 347,360 | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 379,052 | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 415,010 | +9.5% |
| 1999 | 454,380 | +9.5% |
| 2000 | 497,546 | +9.5% |
| 2001 | 544,678 | +9.5% |
| 2002 | 596,348 | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 622,065 | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 644,520 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 667,720 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 691,789 | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 716,725 | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 742,597 | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 769,327 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 797,059 | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 825,790 | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 855,599 | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 886,397 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 918,304 | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 951,359 | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 985,604 | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 1.02 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.06 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 1.09 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.13 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 1.17 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 1.21 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 1.25 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 1.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 1.33 million | +3.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 1.33 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 67% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 1.33 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 61% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 44,470 | 34,319 | 56,217 | 10 |
| 1970s | 88,104 | 59,386 | 121,567 | 10 |
| 1980s | 165,161 | 128,266 | 207,712 | 10 |
| 1990s | 318,245 | 219,142 | 454,380 | 10 |
| 2000s | 649,332 | 497,546 | 769,327 | 10 |
| 2010s | 939,383 | 797,059 | 1.09 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.23 million | 1.13 million | 1.33 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More urban development data for Rwanda
- Population in the largest city 29.5% (2025)
- Population density 565.64 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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)
- 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 in largest city in Rwanda?
- Population in largest city in Rwanda was 1.33 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.33 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,319 in 1960.
- How does Rwanda rank for population in largest city?
- Rwanda ranks 114th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. 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
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.