Rwanda’s population was 13,246,394 as of August 2022, showing an inter-censal annual growth rate of 2.3% between 2012 and 2022.
The Rwanda’s population has increased over time, tripling between 1978 (4.8 million) and 2022 (13.2 million). The increase was steady between 1978 and 1991, between 2002 and 2012 as well as between 2012 and 2022 as reflected by the respective average annual growth rates of 3.1%, 2.6% and 2.3%. In contrast, the population growth was slow between 1991 and 2002 (1.2% annually), reflecting the high death toll of the 1990 war and the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
Population projections
The Rwanda population is projected to increase from 13.2 million in 2022 to 24.2 million (high scenario), to 23.8 million (medium scenario), and to or 23.4 million (low scenario) by 2052.
The current population density of 501 inhabitants per square kilometre (in mid-year 2022) will increase to about 894 (medium scenario) at the end of the projection period, 2052.
The urban population will increase from 3.7 million in 2022 to 16.5 million (medium scenario) by 2052 in consideration of the country’s aspiration to have 70% of the population in urban by 2050.
TABLE: Resident population by residence, Province, and District (2022)
| Province/ District | Count | Percentage | ||||
| Total | Urban | Rural | Total | Urban | Rural | |
| Rwanda | 13,246,394 | 3,701,245 | 9,545,149 | 100 | 27.9 | 72.1 |
| City of Kigali | 1,745,555 | 1,517,168 | 228,387 | 100 | 86.9 | 13.1 |
| Nyarugenge | 374,319 | 315,899 | 58,420 | 100 | 84.4 | 15.6 |
| Gasabo | 879,505 | 714,069 | 165,436 | 100 | 81.2 | 18.8 |
| Kicukiro | 491,731 | 487,200 | 4,531 | 100 | 99.1 | 0.9 |
| Southern Province | 3,002,699 | 444,106 | 2,558,593 | 100 | 14.8 | 85.2 |
| Nyanza | 365,718 | 33,765 | 331,953 | 100 | 9.2 | 90.8 |
| Gisagara | 397,051 | 13,513 | 383,538 | 100 | 3.4 | 96.6 |
| Nyaruguru | 318,126 | 7,641 | 310,485 | 100 | 2.4 | 97.6 |
| Huye | 381,900 | 79,744 | 302,156 | 100 | 20.9 | 79.1 |
| Nyamagabe | 371,501 | 40,592 | 330,909 | 100 | 10.9 | 89.1 |
| Ruhango | 359,121 | 39,079 | 320,042 | 100 | 10.9 | 89.1 |
| Muhanga | 358,433 | 87,252 | 271,181 | 100 | 24.3 | 75.7 |
| Kamonyi | 450,849 | 142,520 | 308,329 | 100 | 31.6 | 68.4 |
| Western Province | 2,896,484 | 640,307 | 2,256,177 | 100 | 22.1 | 77.9 |
| Karongi | 373,869 | 33,542 | 340,327 | 100 | 9 | 91 |
| Rutsiro | 369,180 | 20,606 | 348,574 | 100 | 5.6 | 94.4 |
| Rubavu | 546,683 | 294,448 | 252,235 | 100 | 53.9 | 46.1 |
| Nyabihu | 319,047 | 78,027 | 241,020 | 100 | 24.5 | 75.5 |
| Ngororero | 367,955 | 18,142 | 349,813 | 100 | 4.9 | 95.1 |
| Rusizi | 485,529 | 162,165 | 323,364 | 100 | 33.4 | 66.6 |
| Nyamasheke | 434,221 | 33,377 | 400,844 | 100 | 7.7 | 92.3 |
| Northern Province | 2,038,511 | 353,729 | 1,684,782 | 100 | 17.4 | 82.6 |
| Rulindo | 360,144 | 38,110 | 322,034 | 100 | 10.6 | 89.4 |
| Gakenke | 365,292 | 14,788 | 350,504 | 100 | 4 | 96 |
| Musanze | 476,522 | 234,258 | 242,264 | 100 | 49.2 | 50.8 |
| Burera | 387,729 | 38,442 | 349,287 | 100 | 9.9 | 90.1 |
| Gicumbi | 448,824 | 28,131 | 420,693 | 100 | 6.3 | 93.7 |
| Eastern Province | 3,563,145 | 745,935 | 2,817,210 | 100 | 20.9 | 79.1 |
| Rwamagana | 484,953 | 180,056 | 304,897 | 100 | 37.1 | 62.9 |
| Nyagatare | 653,861 | 157,894 | 495,967 | 100 | 24.1 | 75.9 |
| Gatsibo | 551,164 | 55,351 | 495,813 | 100 | 10 | 90 |
| Kayonza | 457,156 | 65,071 | 392,085 | 100 | 14.2 | 85.8 |
| Kirehe | 460,860 | 29,039 | 431,821 | 100 | 6.3 | 93.7 |
| Ngoma | 404,048 | 37,297 | 366,751 | 100 | 9.2 | 90.8 |
| Bugesera | 551,103 | 221,227 | 329,876 | 100 | 40.1 | 59.9 |
The urban population will increase from 3.7 million in 2022 to 16.8 million (high scenario), 16.5 million (medium scenario) and 16.2 million (low scenario) by 2052. This corresponds to an overall increase equivalent to more than 4 times the increase rate of the total population.
The rural population will decline from 9.5 million in 2022 to 7.2 million (high scenario), 7.1 million (medium scenario) and 6.9 million (low scenario) by 2052.
This will translate in a decrease of the size of the rural population by 24.5% (high scenario), 26% (medium scenario) and 27% (low scenario) between 2022 and 2052 in consideration of the country’s aspiration to have 70% of the population in urban by 2050.
Access to electricity
Access to electricity by private households in Rwanda currently amounts to 61% (47% on grid and 14% solar panels). This shows a significant improvement comparatively to the 2012 census.
The City of Kigali is ahead with 90% access to electricity, while in the other provinces access to elecetricity ranges between 55% to 60% of their private households. The access to electricity by households is far higher in urban areas (84.6%) than in rural areas (51.3%).