Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Rwanda
Rwanda: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 1.33 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Rwanda, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 1.33 million for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Rwanda peaked at 1.33 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34,319, in 1960.
That places Rwanda 113th out of 121 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 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% |
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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Rwanda?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Rwanda was 1.33 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.33 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,319 in 1960.
- How does Rwanda rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Rwanda ranks 113th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.